News: Harry Butler Retires

One of the most well known names in the Hampshire Construction Industry, Harry Butler, has packed away his hard hat after 44 years in the Industry and is now looking forward to a long and happy retirement.

Harry Butler is the fourth generation of his family to be involved in building. His great grandfather established Butler Brothers and went on to build numerous buildings in Southampton including three cinemas and a large part of the housing in Shirley and Bassett.

Harry started work as a trainee site manager in 1963. He progressed quickly through the ranks and made his name as one of the most reputable managers in the region on projects like the Arndale Centre in Poole in 1976 and the conversion of the Lainston Manor House into the luxury hotel ‘Lainston House’ in Winchester.

It was over twenty years ago that Harry met Phil Wilding when they were both directors of the southern region of the national construction company, Willmott Dixon. It was to be a life changing meeting for both of them because in 1993 they established the Winchester based construction company Wilding Butler. In 1999 it completed its first £1million project, a hotel at the internationally acclaimed jazz venue, the Concorde Club.

Wilding Butler now directly employs over 36 people and a further 200 indirectly. With a projected annual turnover of £15 million it aims to be the Construction Company of Choice.

Since 1969 Harry took an active role in the Chartered Institute of Building. In 1991 he became a Fellow of the Institute and in 2005 was one of a handful of individuals selected nationally to be recognised for the major contribution he has made to the local development of the Institute. As current Chairman of the South East Region of the Institute he represents over 6000 other Chartered Builders.

Nick Cuffe, a colleague of Harry’s at both Wilding Butler and the Chartered Institute of Building, has known him for almost 20 years. He commented “Harry has been an ambassador for Wilding Butler, the CIOB and the Construction Industry. In a time of serious skill shortages it is a pity that the Industy must lose someone of his calibre. He is irreplaceable.”

Phil Wilding said “ It has been a great pleasure working with Harry and he is without doubt the best manager of construction work that I have ever met. I am delighted that he will remain with Wilding Butler as a Non Executive Director.”

Wilding Butler
Construction Limited
Wessex Way
Colden Common
Winchester
SO21 1WP

Tel: 01962 717850
Fax: 01962 717860