Patrick Butler was a prominent physician with a major interest in endocrinology and he made an influential contribution to local medical activities during the 1970s and early 1980s. Patrick came to Australia from London following his marriage to Dr Christine Morrow, daughter of one of our eminent physicians, Sir William Morrow (qv)

Patrick was born into a medical family, his father being a medical practitioner and was educated at the Douai School, Berkshire, England and undertook his undergraduate studies in the Medical College of St Bartholomew's Hospital, London. He graduated MB BS (Honours) in 1963 and then undertook two years as house surgeon/physician at St Bartholomew's. In 1965 he trained at the Brompton Hospital and in that year gained his MRCP (London). He spent the following year at the Hammersmith Hospital and from 1966 to 1967 was a lecturer in medicine at the professorial unit at St Bartholomew's and subsequently chief assistant to that unit where he developed his interest in endocrinology. During this period he wrote various clinical and research publications on endocrinological topics. He had appointments as visiting medical officer both to the Prince of Wales Hospital and Repatriation Hospital, Concord. He undertook an active role in AMA affairs and in the undergraduate and postgraduate medical activities of the city, being an examiner for the RACP exams, specialist physician to the Royal Australian Army and an assessor for project grant applications to the NHMRC.

On arrival in Australia, he developed a great and continuing interest in native flora and his garden reflected that interest. He continued his activities in golf, sailing and rugby union and was a devoted father to his three children, Richard, Piers and Rachel. In 1977 he was elected to the membership of The Royal Australasian College of Physicians and subsequently to the fellowship in 1978. He remained an active contributor to the department of medicine at Prince Henry/Prince of Wales Hospital until his untimely death left a major gap in the endocrinology activities of the group.