Jack Butterworth, Baron Butterworth
Encyclopedia
John Blackstocke Butterworth, CBE
, DL
(13 March 1918 – 19 June 2003) was a British
lawyer.
Jack, as he liked to be called, was graduated in jurisprudence from Oxford University on the eve of the Second World War. He enlisted in the Royal Artillery
and spent much of the war in Scotland, protecting strategic targets from air attack.
He qualified in 1946 as a barrister at Lincoln’s Inn, and then became a law tutor at New College, Oxford
. He had a reputation as an outstanding teacher and he was made an Honorary Bencher of Lincoln’s Inn in 1953. He was quick-witted and shrewd, which accounts for his appointment as bursar
of New College for the last seven years of his time at Oxford.
He became the first Vice-Chancellor of the University of Warwick
. In 1963. Warwick was one of the handful of new universities created in the wake of the Robbins Report
(1962). One of his colleagues at the time described him as “a noisy” vice chancellor.
Butterworth believed strongly that his job was to select professors who would be leaders in their discipline and that he should stand aside and let them develop their subjects in their own way (though within a tight budget). Because he had worked only at Oxford, he wanted Oxford’s standards of academic performance at the undergraduate level and in research. He had a belief that Warwick must maintain a balance between ‘pure’ and ‘applied’ disciplines: you could justify a strong commitment to the Humanities
if you had a Business School
, a very pure Maths Department if you had Engineering
.
A large part of Warwick’s success stems from Butterworth’s cultivation of links with the rich industrial enterprises of the Midlands
. One of his first creations was an industrial centre, intended as a stimulus of advanced engineering in the region. Similarly, he cultivated (and earned) municipal goodwill.
He also built the Warwick Arts Centre
. His link with Miss Martin, the famous ‘Anonymous Benefactor’, represented the crucial launching pad for the project, but funds came from many sources including a contribution for the third and final phase from the about to be abolished West Midlands County Council
whose gift was steered through by a Coventry Councillor. It was somehow typical that Butterworth, whose politics could not have been more different, could persuade a radical left wing politician that such a project deserved support. He traded on the sympathies of his friends on grantmaking committees for consideration of Warwick and held forth without giving quarter to ministers he happened to bump into in corridors.
Butterworth's period as vice chancellor was not without controversy, particularly regarding his opposition to the establishment of a Students' union
. Above the main bar of the Students Union building at Warwick University there is an inscription quoting him as saying "The Students' union shall never have its own building". His period of office included the student protests beginning in the late 1960s. During one event the vice chancellor’s office was occupied and files rummaged through. These protests were supported by the social historian, the late Professor Edward Thompson
, one of Butterworth's own appointments.
His other passions were the Association of Commonwealth Universities
, a post-imperial organisation devoted to providing assistance to anglophone universities in developing countries, of which he was chairman for ten years; and the Foundation for Science and Technology
, of which he became chairman in 1990, subsequently holding the position of president until his death.
His appointment to the House of Lords
as a life peer
on retirement from the University in 1985 was a lifeline for one with such an abounding surplus of energy. He took the title Baron Butterworth, of Warwick in the County of Warwickshire
. Breaking with the tradition that vice-chancellors who are made Lords pretend to be above party politics, he chose to be labelled a Conservative
.
Butterworth married his wife Doris in 1948 and they had one son and two daughters, including Anna Walker
. He died on 19 June 2003.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, DL
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
(13 March 1918 – 19 June 2003) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
lawyer.
Jack, as he liked to be called, was graduated in jurisprudence from Oxford University on the eve of the Second World War. He enlisted in the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
and spent much of the war in Scotland, protecting strategic targets from air attack.
He qualified in 1946 as a barrister at Lincoln’s Inn, and then became a law tutor at New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
. He had a reputation as an outstanding teacher and he was made an Honorary Bencher of Lincoln’s Inn in 1953. He was quick-witted and shrewd, which accounts for his appointment as bursar
Bursar
A bursar is a senior professional financial administrator in a school or university.Billing of student tuition accounts are the responsibility of the Office of the Bursar. This involves sending bills and making payment plans with the ultimate goal of getting the student accounts paid off...
of New College for the last seven years of his time at Oxford.
He became the first Vice-Chancellor of the University of Warwick
University of Warwick
The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
. In 1963. Warwick was one of the handful of new universities created in the wake of the Robbins Report
Robbins Report
The Robbins Report was commissioned by the British government and published in 1963. The Committee met from 1961 to 1963...
(1962). One of his colleagues at the time described him as “a noisy” vice chancellor.
Butterworth believed strongly that his job was to select professors who would be leaders in their discipline and that he should stand aside and let them develop their subjects in their own way (though within a tight budget). Because he had worked only at Oxford, he wanted Oxford’s standards of academic performance at the undergraduate level and in research. He had a belief that Warwick must maintain a balance between ‘pure’ and ‘applied’ disciplines: you could justify a strong commitment to the Humanities
Humanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
if you had a Business School
Business school
A business school is a university-level institution that confers degrees in Business Administration. It teaches topics such as accounting, administration, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, information systems, marketing, organizational behavior, public relations, strategy, human resource...
, a very pure Maths Department if you had Engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
.
A large part of Warwick’s success stems from Butterworth’s cultivation of links with the rich industrial enterprises of the Midlands
English Midlands
The Midlands, or the English Midlands, is the traditional name for the area comprising central England that broadly corresponds to the early medieval Kingdom of Mercia. It borders Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales. Its largest city is Birmingham, and it was an important...
. One of his first creations was an industrial centre, intended as a stimulus of advanced engineering in the region. Similarly, he cultivated (and earned) municipal goodwill.
He also built the Warwick Arts Centre
Warwick Arts Centre
Warwick Arts Centre is a multi-venue arts complex at the University of Warwick in Coventry, England. It attracts around 300,000 visitors a year to over 3,000 individual events embracing contemporary and classical music, drama, dance, comedy, films and visual art.Warwick Arts Centre comprises six...
. His link with Miss Martin, the famous ‘Anonymous Benefactor’, represented the crucial launching pad for the project, but funds came from many sources including a contribution for the third and final phase from the about to be abolished West Midlands County Council
West Midlands County Council
The West Midlands County Council was, from 1974 to 1986, the upper-tier administrative body for the West Midlands county, a metropolitan county in England....
whose gift was steered through by a Coventry Councillor. It was somehow typical that Butterworth, whose politics could not have been more different, could persuade a radical left wing politician that such a project deserved support. He traded on the sympathies of his friends on grantmaking committees for consideration of Warwick and held forth without giving quarter to ministers he happened to bump into in corridors.
Butterworth's period as vice chancellor was not without controversy, particularly regarding his opposition to the establishment of a Students' union
Students' union
A students' union, student government, student senate, students' association, guild of students or government of student body is a student organization present in many colleges and universities, and has started appearing in some high schools...
. Above the main bar of the Students Union building at Warwick University there is an inscription quoting him as saying "The Students' union shall never have its own building". His period of office included the student protests beginning in the late 1960s. During one event the vice chancellor’s office was occupied and files rummaged through. These protests were supported by the social historian, the late Professor Edward Thompson
E. P. Thompson
Edward Palmer Thompson was a British historian, writer, socialist and peace campaigner. He is probably best known today for his historical work on the British radical movements in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, in particular The Making of the English Working Class...
, one of Butterworth's own appointments.
His other passions were the Association of Commonwealth Universities
Association of Commonwealth Universities
The Association of Commonwealth Universities represents over 480 universities from Commonwealth countries.- History :In 1912, the University of London took the initiative to assemble 53 representatives of universities in London to hold a Congress of Universities of the Empire...
, a post-imperial organisation devoted to providing assistance to anglophone universities in developing countries, of which he was chairman for ten years; and the Foundation for Science and Technology
Foundation for Science and Technology
The Foundation for Science and Technology is a forum in the United Kingdom for discussing policy issues that have a science, engineering or technology element...
, of which he became chairman in 1990, subsequently holding the position of president until his death.
His appointment to the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
as a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
on retirement from the University in 1985 was a lifeline for one with such an abounding surplus of energy. He took the title Baron Butterworth, of Warwick in the County of Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
. Breaking with the tradition that vice-chancellors who are made Lords pretend to be above party politics, he chose to be labelled a Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
.
Butterworth married his wife Doris in 1948 and they had one son and two daughters, including Anna Walker
Anna Walker
Angela Walker is an English television presenter who has presented such programmes as, Wish You Were Here...?, Big Strong Boys, Holidaymaker, Garden Challenge, Garden Invaders and Tomorrow's World....
. He died on 19 June 2003.