Young Surveyor Remembered as Offices Face Demolition in Reading, UK

Chris Whitton worked at Shire Hall. Shire Hall was located in Shinfield Park near Reading. In 1994, Chris worked for Jones Lang Wootton. The council contracted this company; they handled estate management. Sadly, Chris passed away in 1997 from meningitis on September 3rd.

Chris was only twenty-six years old. People really missed him. A bench was put in at Shire Hall to honor his memory, a year after he passed.

The Reading Chronicle wrote about the bench in 1998. The article mentioned Chris’s death from meningitis, stating he was a Berkshire surveyor. Chris worked for the council’s property section earlier. He joined Jones Lang Wootton in ’94, when they took over council’s valuation work.

Council colleagues paid for the bench. It overlooked the pond at Shire Hall. Chris’s parents and sister attended the dedication. Chris Poole spoke at the ceremony. He worked in the council’s property section, saying they provided a tribute to Chris. Chris Poole stated he was a valued colleague.

Chris enjoyed golf, football, and running. He loved horse racing. He went to Ryeish Green School and then studied at Reading College. The article’s author was Sangeeta Bhabra, who now presents ITV News Meridian.

Shire Hall has been closed for months. Wood moved to Green Park last August. Chris’s sister, Emma Patey, wanted to see the bench. However, the site was closed, so she could not access it. Wrenbridge now owns the site. They moved the bench to Emma’s home temporarily, with plans for its return after the site’s rebuilt. Wrenbridge got approval to demolish Shire Hall to facilitate their plans with Fiera Real Estate to build a logistics hub there.