Obituary: The Marquess of Bute

MAY I add to the obituary of the Marquess of Bute something more on the excellence of his contributions to the world of charity? writes Foster Murphy.

John Bute headed up a little-remembered experiment in national fund-raising in the mid-Seventies. The Post Office were persuaded to inaugurate a charity postage stamp, something common in other European countries over many years and the Marquess of Bute agreed to chair the trustees.

I served as secretary and saw his excellent negotiating style and his fair- mindedness when it came to the distribution to charities working for disabled people. It was not his fault that the scheme was a one-off experiment.