The Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners (WCEC) is most saddened to announce the death of Past Master Emeritus Inez Dorothy Butler on 28 March 2016, aged 86. Inez passed away peacefully in hospital following a chest infection.
Inez was known by her maiden name of Dorothy Oliver (Dottie Ollie to her friends) during much of her business career.
Inez was admitted to the Freedom of the Company in 1975, whilst it was still a Guild, and clothed in Livery in 1986. She was the Company’s second lady master, installed in 1992 and served for the customary year. Her husband John Butler, whom she married in 1981, also served on the Company’s Court. She continued to regularly attend meetings of the Court into the new millennium. Her father was a member of the Salters’ Company and it pleased her when the Environmental Cleaners used the Salters’ Hall.
On leaving school Inez had a short spell in the WRNS, but as it was not to her liking, she then went to London University to study Institutional Management. After qualifying, she had a variety of jobs in halls of residence, hospitals, and spent some time in the cleaning industry’s chemical business working with the late John Ayres. In 1965 she joined the then Ministry of Health as an advisor in hospital domestic management, developing the technical aspect for the national scheme for domestic superintendents.
Other duties included evaluating cleaning materials and equipment for the supplies department. Dorothy spent several years in the National Health Service dealing with domestic management at both regional and national level. In 1982 she was promoted to deputy chief officer to Molly Mawson, who was also a member of the Environmental Cleaners, and, whose husband Lt Col Ian Little was a founder member and Master in 1976/77.
