Robin Butler, Baron Butler of Brockwell

The Right Honourable The Lord Butler of Brockwell KG GCB CVO PC
Lord Butler in the robes of a Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter.
Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister
In office 1979–1985
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	Margaret Thatcher
Preceded by	Clive Whitmore
Succeeded by	Nigel Wicks
Cabinet Secretary & Head of the Home Civil Service
In office 1988–1998
Prime Minister	Margaret Thatcher John Major Tony Blair
Preceded by	Sir Robert Armstrong
Succeeded by	Sir Richard Wilson
Personal details
Born	(1938-01-03) 3 January 1938 Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, England, UK
Spouse(s)	Gillian Lois Galley (1962-present)
Children	3
Alma mater	University College, Oxford

Frederick Edward Robin Butler, Baron Butler of Brockwell, KG GCB CVO PC (born 3 January 1938) is a retired British civil servant, now sitting in the House of Lords.

Early life and family

Butler was born in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, on 3 January 1938. He went to Orley Farm School & Harrow School (where he was Head Boy), then taught for a year at St Dunstan's School, Burnham-on-Sea, before going up to University College, Oxford, where he took a double first in Mods and Greats and twice gained a Rugby Blue. He married Gillian Lois Galley in 1962. They have a son and two daughters.

Civil service career

Butler had a high profile career in the civil service from 1961 to 1998, serving as Private Secretary to five Prime Ministers. He was Secretary of the Cabinet and Head of the Home Civil Service from 1988 to 1998.

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.

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 Harlequins 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"!

In 1969, he was seconded to the Bank of England and several City institutions. Later at HM Treasury as Assistant Secretary, General Expenditure Intelligence Division, he led the team which installed the UK Government's computerised financial information system 1975&–77. He had been a founder member of the Central Policy Review Staff under Lord Rothschild 1971–2. After several senior appointments at the Treasury, he became second Permanent Secretary, Public Expenditure, 1985–87.

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). Along with Thatcher, he was almost killed in the 1984 IRA bombing of the Grand Hotel in Brighton. He was also Cabinet Secretary during the premierships of Margaret Thatcher, John Major and Tony Blair.

Other activities

After retiring from the Civil Service, he was Master of University College, Oxford, 1998–2008, and was made a Life Peer as Baron Butler of Brockwell, of Herne Hill in the London Borough of Lambeth in the 1998 New Year Honours List.

He became a non-executive Director of HSBC Group from 1998 to 2008. He is also Chairman of the Corporate Sustainability Committee and the HSBC Global Education Trust. In 2011, he was elected Master of the Worshipful Company of Salters.

In 2004, Lord Butler chaired the Review of Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction, widely known as the 'Butler Review', which reviewed the use of intelligence in the lead up to the 2003 Iraq War. The report concluded that some of the intelligence about Iraq's possession of Weapons of Mass Destruction was seriously flawed. The report also concluded, in regards the so-called Niger uranium forgeries, that the report Saddam's government was seeking uranium in Africa appeared "well-founded".

Styles, honours, and arms

Styles

• Mr Robin Butler (1938–1986)
• Mr Robin Butler, CVO (1986–1988)
• Sir Robin Butler, KCB, CVO (1988–1992)
• Sir Robin Butler, GCB, CVO (1992–1998)
• The Rt Hon. The Lord Butler of Brockwell, GCB, CVO (1998–2003)
• The Rt Hon. The Lord Butler of Brockwell, KG, GCB, CVO (2003–2004)
• The Rt Hon. The Lord Butler of Brockwell, KG, GCB, CVO, PC (2004–present)

Honours

• Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO), 1986
• Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (KCB), 1988
• Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (GCB), 1992
• Life peerage, 31 December 1997
• Knight of the Garter (KG), 23 April 2003
• Privy Counsellor (PC), 2004

Arms

Arms of Robin Butler, Baron Butler of Brockwell

Notes The Right Honourable The Baron Butler Brockwell bears the Coat of Arms granted to him by the College of Arms. A banner of his arms, a carving in wood of his crest, and a stall plate showing his whole achievement are set up in the choir of the Chapel of St George in Windsor, which is the chapel of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. Lord Butler of Brockwell, Master of University College, Oxford, and formerly Secretary of the Cabinet and Head of the Home Civil Service, was created a life peer on 12 February 1998. In 2003, he was invested as a Knight of the Garter and as such he places the Garter around his shield. Adopted 2003 Coronet Coronet of a Baron Crest Out of a Well a demi Badger Azure the head Argent and eye-stripes Azure. Torse Mantling Or and Azure. Escutcheon Azure a Cross flory and parted Or between four Covered Cups bases inwards Argent. Supporters On either side a Lion Argent armed and langued Azure and holding in the interior forepaw a Lymphad flags flying Or. Motto SERVIRE ET SERVARE Latin: Serve and maintain Orders The Order of the Garter circlet. Other elements Ribbon of KG appended

Offices held

Government offices
Preceded by Clive Whitmore	Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister 1979–1985	Succeeded by Nigel Wicks
Preceded by Sir Robert Armstrong	Cabinet Secretary & Head of the Home Civil Service 1988–1998	Succeeded by Sir Richard Wilson
Academic offices
Preceded by John Albery	Master of University College, Oxford 1998–2008	Succeeded by Sir Ivor Crewe

External links

• Oxford University Gazette announcement of election as Master
• The Arms of Lord Butler of Brockwell
• For the story about Rab Butler's memos
• thePeerage.com, used for Honours
• Debrett's People of Today