Is It Just Me..?

[2sp_]

I was reading this article about Prince George and his Godparents.

I noticed that Zara Tindall is to be a Godmother. She is also described as "wife of former England rugby player Mike Tindall".

Now, I know she is married to him, I remember the tales of the stag do. My slight issue is that she has now become his wife first and foremost. What happened to international sportswoman, or even part of the Royal family?

Is it just me that finds that a bit old fashioned? That a woman suddenly becomes known by her husband and his occupation? Doctor's wife, minister's wife, farmer's wife?

Should I just go lie down until this passes?

[mccfluff]

asked a journo - filler and to round them out, give a pic of them as a person,, hero, family etc etc

[2sp_]

I remember meeting a vague acquaintance of Mr P's who turned to me and asked if I was "just a farmer's wife"...

You never hear of a man referred to as a doctor's husband.

[jno]

did you take the name Raccoon when you married, rocky? It's been a long time since women were expected to do so (though most still seem to). If you'd just announced at the time that you were going to continue to be Miss Stoat, even your aunt might have taken notice.

[Sqad]

2sp you are being too sensitive here:

"She was only the farmer's wife but she liked he Huddersfield" is mildly amusing....BUT "Mrs sp, with A levels in knitting and media studies, two children and fat hairy legs but she liked her Huddersfield" sounds ridiculous.

Come and lie down with me.

[rockyracoon]

I did take it under sufferance jno, but she puts Mrs D Raccoon on the envelope when I think she should put Mrs S Racoon, there is no Mrs D in my mind.

[andy-hughes]

No it's not just you, i have a real bug about people being 'tagged' when the public know quite well who they are.

OK, calling Zara 'Mrs Tindall' is fair enough - but i would thought the tag would be about her as a princess and sportwoeman, rather than him as a rugby player.

My favourite rant - expressed last week in fact, is 'Ex-Beatle' Paul McCartney - in case we would confuse him with Paul Mccarney the Shakesperian actor, or well-known author!

[jno]

andy, I suspect that's to remind people of the Beatles rather than of Paul. There have been an awful lot of people born since 1970 to whom they're only something their parents - or grandparents - listened to.

In my youth, it would probably have been equivalent to writing "Clara Bow, the former film star", and I would have been glad of it.

[AB Editor]

Hi Andy,

This is my favourite example of when this labelling might actually be useful: https://twitter.com/RealDMitchell

David Mitchell (Comedian) has this as his Twitter Bio:

"This is the David Mitchell who's in Peep Show and things, not the novelist or the former Tory MP."

I only find this quite so funny because I found the comedian's twitter when I was looking for the writer's!

[boxtops]

LoL, Ed, didn't it say "husband of the famous TV person Victoria Coren Mitchell"?

[andy-hughes]

jno - "andy, I suspect that's to remind people of the Beatles rather than of Paul. There have been an awful lot of people born since 1970 to whom they're only something their parents - or grandparents - listened to."

i see your point, but The Beatles is the most famous pop group ever to jabve existed, and PM remains one of the most famous and recogniseable people on the planet!

No-one refers to Eric Clatpton as 'Ex-Yardbird' Eric Clapton - it seems he is famous enough not to require a label to distinguish him from Eric Clapton who runs a newsagents in Peckham!

[2sp_]

To be honest I'd never heard of Mike Tindall until he married Zara Phillips.

[AB Editor]

That would be quite good Boxtops :)

[AB Editor]

Wasn't everyone in the Yardbirds at some point Andy? Easier to list those who weren't surely? :)

[Gromit]

I had been under the misapprehension that David Mitchell the comedian and David Mitchell the author were the same person for many years.
I only realised my mistake when I picked up a book left at my hotel when I was on holiday.

[boxtops]

That's nice, jordy :-(

[Peter Pedant]

Yeah I agree Gromit - I thought Martina Cole was really Martina Navratilova who had started writing...bit of a potty mouth tho

Racky - yr mother is addressing you correctly as Mrs John Smith,
Mrs Racky SMith is reserved for when you are a widow (oops !).

My neighbour John Brown said to me - I can't ever remember how you address my daughter and I said: Miss Brown.
and he said Yes ! that's it ! - [elder and only daughter]

[DTCwordfan]

You are lucky, rockyrac, my ex puts down 'Mrs' on moi......

Just joking.....