Master Neil Butterfield (Sir Neil Butterfield) died on Saturday 5 April 2025, aged 82.

Master Butterfield was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1965. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1985 and served as a Recorder from 1978 to 1995. He led the Western Circuit from 1992 to 1995 and served as its Presiding Judge from 1997 to 2000. He was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Justice, Queen’s Bench Division, in 1995, and was knighted that same year. He served on the bench until his retirement in 2012. Following his judicial career, he continued to serve in a number of public roles, including as a member of the Parole Board from 2003 to 2015 (Vice-Chairman from 2005), and as a Board Member of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority from 2013 to 2016. He also served as a Trustee of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Plymouth from 2014. In recognition of his service to the Church, he was appointed a Knight of St Gregory in 2017.

Master Butterfield was elected a Governing Bencher of the Inn in 1992.

The Inn’s flag was flown at half-mast in his memory on Monday 14 April.

Details of a funeral and/or memorial service will be circulated in due course as appropriate.