He was Private Secretary to Prime Ministers Edward Heath ( 1972 – 74 ) and Harold Wilson ( 1974 – 75 ) , and Principal Private Secretary to Margaret Thatcher ( 1982 – 85 ) . Along with Thatcher , he was almost killed in the 1984 IRA bombing of the Grand Hotel in Brighton . He was also Cabinet Secretary during the premierships of Margaret Thatcher , John Major and Tony Blair
bombing of the Grand Hotel
Brighton hotel bombing
Robin Butler, Baron Butler of Brockwell