The Master 2011 – 2012

The Rt Hon Lord Butler of Brockwell KG GCB CVO 
 

The Rt Hon Lord Butler of Brockwell was Master of University College, Oxford, 1998–2008, following his retirement as Secretary of the Cabinet and Head of the Home Civil Service in January 1998.  Born in 1938, he was educated at Harrow School and University College, Oxford, where he read Mods and Greats and played rugby for the University.

In 1961 he joined the Treasury where he served as Private Secretary to the Financial Secretary in 1964 and Secretary of the Budget Committee from 1965 to 1969.  He was a Private Secretary to the Prime Minister, Mr Edward Heath, from 1972 to 1974, and Mr Harold Wilson, from 1974 to 1975.  In 1975 he returned to the Treasury as an Assistant Secretary, and then became Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister, Mrs Margaret Thatcher, from 1982 to 1985.  In 1988 he was appointed as Secretary of the Cabinet and Head of the Home Civil Service.

He was knighted (KCB) in 1988, and became GCB in 1992.  In 1998 he was created a Life Peer and in 2003 he was appointed a Knight of the Garter (KG).  In 1999 he was a member of the Royal Commission on Reform of the House of Lords.  In 2004, he was asked by the Prime Minister to chair The Review of Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction.  

Lord Butler, who is married with three children, served as Chairman of the Governors of Dulwich College 1997– 2003; as Chairman of the Governors of Harrow School 1975–91; and as a Non Executive Director of HSBC 1998–2008.  His leisure activities include golf and such other competitive games as he can still manage.

The Wardens