Michael John Butler was born in Bristol and educated at Bristol Cathedral School. He went on to Oriel College, Oxford and St Thomas's Hospital, London, to complete his medical training. He graduated BM BCh Oxon in 1966, proceeded MCh in 1977 and obtained the FRCS Diploma in 1971. He held posts at Hammersmith Hospital, the Royal United and St Martin's Hospitals in Bath, St Bartholomew's Hospital and the department of surgery in Southampton, where he was lecturer. He was a general surgeon with an interest in vascular surgery. He was appointed consultant surgeon to the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport only four years before his death. His colleagues there quickly recognised in him a very good doctor and an able surgeon and teacher whose sense of humour and open personality won him many friends. He was elected secretary of the Gwent Medical Society and honorary secretary of the Welsh Surgical Society. He faced his mortal illness with courage and dignity and died on 10 August 1982, survived by his wife, Janet and their young children.