Developer pledges to reinstate memorial bench

The bench is in memory of Chris Whitton, who died in 1997 at the age of 26

The owners of an office complex, due to be partly demolished ahead of redevelopment work, have promised to reinstate a memorial bench to a former worker.

The Shire Hall office complex in Shinfield was established in 1981 as the headquarters of Berkshire County Council.

When council worker Chris Whitton, 26, died in September 1997, his colleagues raised funds for the bench on the site in his memory and it has been in place ever since.

The county council was abolished in 1998 with engineering company Foster Wheeler taking over Shire Hall in 2000 and consultancy firm Wood from 2017 to 2024.

Shire Hall opened in Shinfield, on the outskirts of Reading, in 1981

The site has been sealed off for months after Wood relocated to nearby Green Park, and the office complex was bought by Fiera Real Estate and property developers Wrenbridge.

Mr Whitton's sister, Emma Patey, said she asked the new owners what had happened to the bench as she had been unable to visit it.

She said: "It has been standing proudly and has been used by many people, for nearly 30 years, to sit, relax and take time out from their busy day thus supporting their mental health and wellbeing.

"I took photos in March last year, where Wood's employees would sit, have their lunch admiring the view of peace and tranquillity with the Canadian Geese."

Wrenbridge Sport's director, Jessica Gavaghan, said the bench was still in place and offered for it to be delivered to Mrs Patey ahead of demolition and reinstalled once redevelopment works were completed.

Ms Gavaghan confirmed the site was currently fenced off for "some demolition works", prior to the site being redeveloped later in the year.

She wrote to Mrs Patey: "There aren't any works occurring nearby at the moment but, as the full demolition and development progresses, it likely will need to be removed from its current location.

"I think at least until the development is completed it would be best if you take it, and if you would like it reinstated once it is completed we can accommodate this."

Any redevelopment would require planning permission from Wokingham Borough Council but an application for the site has not been submitted yet.