Rt Hon The Lord Butler of Brockwell, KG., GCB.,
CVO.
Lord Butler of Brockwell became Master
of University College, Oxford 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 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 awarded
the Knight of the Garter (KG). In 1999 he was a member
of the Royal Commission on Reform of the House of Lords.
Lord Butler, who is married with three children, has just
finished many years as Chairman of the Governors of Dulwich
College. His leisure activities include golf and such other
competitive games as he can still manage.
