Robin Butler, Baron Butler of Brockwell
Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister | |
---|---|
In office 1982–1985 | |
Prime Minister | Margaret Thatcher |
Preceded by | Clive Whitmore |
Succeeded by | Nigel Wicks |
Personal details | |
Born | Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, England | 3 January 1938
Spouse |
Gillian Lois Galley (m. 1962) |
Children | 3 |
Alma mater | University College, Oxford |
Frederick Edward Robin Butler, Baron Butler of Brockwell,
Early life and family
Butler was born in
Civil service career
Butler had a high-profile career in the civil service from 1961 to 1998, serving as
He joined HM Treasury in 1961, becoming Private Secretary to the Financial Secretary to the Treasury 1964–66 and Secretary to the Budget Committee 1965–69.[2]
Early in his career, he was occasionally confused with his namesake Rab Butler. Memos for Rab Butler, some highly sensitive, ended up on his desk, and some of his ended up on Rab's. It was agreed that all memos ambiguously addressed to "R Butler" should go to Rab's office first, and then Rab's office would send on any intended for the other R Butler. It is said that one day the young Butler, who was still playing first class rugby, received a letter that read: "You have been selected for the Richmond 1st XV on Saturday. Please be at Twickenham by 2 p.m.". Underneath, in Rab's distinctive handwriting, was the message: "Dear Robin, I am not free on Saturday. Please could you deputise for me? Rab"![3]
In 1969, he was seconded to the
He was Private Secretary to Prime Ministers Edward Heath (1972–74) and Harold Wilson (1974–75), and Principal Private Secretary to Margaret Thatcher (1982–85).[1][2] Along with Thatcher, he was almost killed in the 1984 IRA bombing of the Grand Hotel in Brighton.[1] He was also Cabinet Secretary during the premierships of Margaret Thatcher, John Major and Tony Blair.[1][2]
Other activities
After retiring from the Civil Service, Butler was Master of University College, Oxford, 1998–2008.[2] He was made a life peer in the 1998 New Year Honours[4] and was raised to the peerage as Baron Butler of Brockwell, of Herne Hill in the London Borough of Lambeth.[5][6]
He was a non-executive Director of
In 2004, Lord Butler chaired the
Honours and arms
Honours
- Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO), 1986 New Year Honours[10]
- Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB), 1988 New Year Honours[11]
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB), 1992 Birthday Honours[12]
- Life peerage, 12 February 1998[4][5][6]
- Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter (KG), 23 April 2003[13]
- Privy Counsellor(PC), 2004
Arms
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References
- ^ a b c d BBC News Profile: Lord Butler of Brockwell
- ^ a b c d e f Salt Talk issue 9 (2011) p6 "The Master"
- ISBN 1844135411, page 751
- ^ a b "No. 54993". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1997. p. 1.
- ^ a b "No. 55047". The London Gazette. 18 February 1998. p. 1911.
- ^ a b "No. 24350". The Edinburgh Gazette. 20 February 1998. p. 419.
- ^ "Governing Body". Royal Academy of Music.
- ^ The Daily Telegraph, 18 September 2011, p.16.
- ^ The Rt. Hon. The Lord Butler of Brockwell (14 July 2004). HC 898: Review of Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction (PDF) (Report). London: The Stationery Office. p. 137. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
- ^ "No. 50361". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1985. p. 4.
- ^ "No. 51171". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1987. p. 3.
- ^ "No. 52952". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 June 1992. p. 3.
- ^ "No. 56915". The London Gazette. 23 April 2003. p. 5017.
- ^ "The Arms of The Right Honourable Baron Butler of Brockwell, K.G., G.C.B., C.V.O., P.C." College of Arms. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2022.