John Michael Henry Butler
"... a man of an angel's wit and singular learning. I know not his fellow. For where is the man of that gentleness, lowliness and affability? And, as time requireth, a man of marvelous mirth and pastimes, and sometime of as sad gravity. A man for all seasons."
Robert Whittington on Sir Thomas More
John Michael Henry was born the middle child of Robert and Doris Butler, an entrepreneurial, hard-working couple.
A voracious reader from an early age, John shunned school texts for boys-own adventure stories like Treasure Island and Tom Sawyer. Belonging to the Sea Scouts instilled a life long passion of sailing and rowing, whether on the Thames or off the South Coast of England and France.
He achieved 'A' Level law in one term, despite spending much of that time re-reading War & Peace.
After passing professional exams, he became a member of The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) in 1969. His early career included Chamberlain and Willows, and Goddard and Smith, before becoming an Associate partner of Conrad Ritblat where he headed up the Decentralised Office Team. This resulted in him becoming one of the founders of the Regional Office Agents' Club, which subsequently was renamed the Office Agents' Society.
In 1982, when he was 34-years-old, he founded his own company, Butler Rosyth, and by this time was a Fellow of the RICS. He was a regular contributor to the Estates Gazette, and wrote the Vox column in Property Week for many years. In the mid 1980s Butler Rosyth forged an Anglo-French partnership and opened a Paris office. In the '90s he trained as an Arbitrator.
John was a lover of life; a bon viveur, good company, a wit and a wise counsellor. He knew no half measures. He ate, drank, swam, rowed, listened, loved and laughed enough for ten lifetimes. He agreed with Kipling's sentiment that 'to be born an Englishman is to win first prize in the lottery of life.'
His tastes were wide, never elitist. An average day could take in Shakespeare, Sharpe and Stallone; Mozart and Melanie. He loved poetry. He wrote short stories and read them at Foyles' Literary evenings.
History was his great passion and great regret. He was going to read History at Birkbeck College last September. But Fate had other plans. His knowledge of the 1930s in general and The Second World War in particular was enormous. He leaves 60,000 words of an unfinished novel set in the 1930s. He leaves much, too early.
John met his future wife, Susan, at 15, and they married eight years later, in 1971. He leaves behind his loving wife, three loving children, sons and daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren, as well as a wide network of good friends.
The greatest fun, the truest friend, the most dependable companion with a wealth of good humour, sound advice and compassion. The best life-partner; a much-loved Dad.
This web site is for you to share your own memories and stories of John, a man for all seasons.
Many people have approached the family wanting to make a donation in John's memory. Having experienced first-hand, the trauma of cancer, the family has decided to support a children's charity, Momentum, which cares for those with life-threatening illnesses. The money will go towards building a holiday home at Milford where we have our beach hut and have spent so many happy times. It will hopefully give the families much needed respite. If desired, donations may be sent to Momentum at www.moment-um.org. Please mention that the donation is given in John's memory, as they are tracking donations for us to make sure the money goes towards the holiday home. A gift aid form is downloadable from the site.