The Guardian's obituary of architect Desmond Williams has highlighted a notable connection within the British architectural world. Williams, known for his ecclesiastical designs, studied at the University of Manchester School of Architecture alongside Donald Buttress, who eventually served as the surveyor of the fabric of Westminster Abbey.
This mention underscores the interconnected history of mid-century British architectural education and the preservation of the nation's most significant heritage sites. The coincidence of Buttress’s name and his professional specialty serves as a lighthearted example of nominative determinism within the high-stakes field of cathedral conservation.