[1] Butler had a high-profile career in the civil service from 1961 to 1998, serving as Private Secretary to five Prime Ministers.

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.

Underneath, in Rab's distinctive handwriting, was the message: "Dear Robin, I am not free on Saturday.

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.

[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.

The report concluded that some of the intelligence about Iraq's possession of weapons of mass destruction was seriously flawed.