C O N T E X T 1 2 8 : M A R C H 2 0 1 3 5 Obituaries Ralph Lawson Mills, former chief engineer of English Heritage Born near Chester Le Street, Ralph Lawson Mills (1928–2012) began his working life on the tools as a joiner. This stood him in good stead for becoming the very practical conservation engineer that he was for so many years. After becoming a chartered structural engineer, he spent eight years working at the Building Research Establishment, later became a college lecturer, then head of department. He did an MSc in building economics. I first worked for Mills in 1970 in the directorate of civil engineering development of the Department of the Environment, where he encouraged young engineers to stretch themselves into new areas of work. At that time he sat on British Standard committees and became, among many other things, involved in old aircraft hangars. In 1974 he was appointed chief engineer of what eventually became English Heritage. There he built up and enthused a team of engineers, myself among them, which still today carries his influence. By a sad coincidence, its current head of engineering, Mark Uggles, himself greatly influenced by Mills, died just a few days after him. When Mills left English Heritage in 1988 (I hesitate to use the word ‘retired’, as he never actually did that) he carried on conserving historic buildings with great gusto, and was always willing to advise and support colleagues. He practised as a consulting engineer for a wide range of clients including country house owners, parochial church councils, the National Trust and English Heritage. Mills played a significant role in the conservation of the Ribblehead Viaduct and the consequent saving of the Settleto-Carlisle line. He estimated the cost of the entire project and persuaded British Rail to carry out trial conservation works on one of its many piers. He was in my office when the final decision came through that the viaduct was to be saved and that the cost would be within just few per cent of his own estimate. I remember that he did a little jig around the room. I still have no idea how he managed to come up with such a good financial estimate. Not long ago Mills appeared briefly on a television programme poking a chimney with his stick and declaring that it had to be demolished. It seemed rather sad that this engineer, who had saved so many buildings against all odds, should be seen on his only TV appearance agreeing to demolition. The number of buildings and other structures with which he was involved, many of which he saved from demolition or heavily over-engineered solutions, is vast. They include the Palace of Westminster, various museums and galleries, Royal Parks, houses great and small, and numerous ancient monuments. His work with churches was extensive. Under his guidance and leadership the conservation engineering team at English Heritage was able to advise on structural repairs and save vast amounts of money. Mills was a kindly, enthusiastic and immensely knowledgeable engineer who was a great encourager to his staff and who was always more than willing to share his expertise. Countless buildings and a large number of people, both engineers and other professionals, owe a great debt to Ralph Lawson Mills. He will be sorely missed. Ian Hume Paul Calvocoressi, expert on historic buildings in London Paul Peter Calvocoressi (1939–2012) was for many years a member of the Greater London Council’s Historic Buildings Division and, until his retirement, of English Heritage’s London Region. Following his retirement he joined the London Borough of Southwark and for five years was a member of its heritage and urban design team. He had a great understanding and knowledge of the
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