New Master of University College

Sir Robin Butler, GCB, CVO, Secretary of the Cabinet and Head of the Home Civil Service since 1987, has been elected by the Fellows of University College as their new Master. He succeeds Professor John Albery who takes up the Barrer Fellowship at Imperial College, London. Sir Robin was educated at Harrow School and University College, Oxford, where he took a double first in Mods and Greats and twice gained a rugby Blue. He joined the Treasury as an Assistant Principal, becoming Secretary to the Budget Committee 1965–9. He was seconded to the Bank of England and several City institutions in 1969 and led the team which installed the Government's computerised financial information system 1975–7. After several senior appointments at the Treasury, he became second Permanent Secretary, Public Expenditure, 1985–7. He has been Private Secretary to three Prime Ministers, the Rt Hon Sir Edward Heath 1972–4; Lord Wilson 1974–5; and Principal Private Secretary to Lady Thatcher 1982–5. He was a founder member of the Central Policy Review Staff under Lord Rothschild 1971–2.