In Memoriam: Trevor Butler, 11 October 1953 – 22 November 2024

Trevor Butler, who died on 22 November after a long illness, was the Head Porter at St Antony’s for almost twelve years, between 2006 and 2018.

Trevor enjoyed the variety of roles which being Head Porter entailed: dealing with the variety of visitors through the lodge (from Royalty and Presidents to deliverymen and lost passersby); running the car park and the bicycle racks; ensuring the right flag was raised on the right days; supplying frontline first aid; dealing with the mail and a host of enquiries. Most of all though he enjoyed supporting students and colleagues; his advice was much sought and much appreciated.

That Trevor was such a success as Head Porter should not have been a surprise since he brought many of the necessary qualities from his past roles. He was first trained as a mechanical engineer and apprenticed as a tool maker before working first as a motorsport and warranty inspector at Unipart in Oxford and then, for many years, as an ‘assembly line auditor’ at Aston Martin which has always been a by-word for quality and style.

It was Trevor’s non-work background however which might have made him particularly prepared for the role of Head Porter. He loved both cricket and golf and he was a serious footballer who played for Oxford United at youth level for two years and then for 15 years in various non-league semi-professional clubs including Wallingford Town FC. Trevor was particularly successful as a football manager. He managed Abingdon Town FC for five seasons during which it won the Ryman League Division 1 and achieved its highest ever standing in non-league football since it was founded in 1870. He later moved to coach Newport on the Isle of Wight – which, under his management, reached the first round of the FA Cup proper – and was Assistant Manager of Oxford City.

If the football metaphor can be stretched, Trevor was a Franz Beckenbauer of Head Porters. He was always in control of what needed to be done and was completely reliable in demanding situations. He had a great sense of the importance of community and cared greatly for the well-being of all its members; he was fiercely loyal to those who worked with him; he had a great sense of humour and a penchant for groan-eliciting puns. Most of all though he was a wise head in all senses of the word; there were many in the College who benefited from his advice and counsel at some point in their time in the college, some of us many times. We are collectively much in Trevor’s debt and he will be much missed.

Roger Goodman, Warden