The electrical industry has lost one of its most loved and respected ladies.
Chris Reddington, wife of Big Red Sales founder, John Reddington, has died, aged 70. She had fought nearly a four-year battle with cancer.
Although well known as John’s wife, she also forged her own very successful career in the consumer electronics industry – starting in 1982, when she opened her own retail store.
Once the couple’s two children, Brian and Sarah, were at school, Chris saw a gap in the market in her local area for hi-fi products and opened an electrical shop in Basingstoke, Hampshire, with a friend and neighbour. The store did extremely well and was sold after eight years.
Chris's next job was with Thorn (Rumbelows/Radio Rentals) in Theale, Berkshire, as an assistant buyer. Quickly recognising her talent, her bosses soon promoted her to buyer and then senior buyer, and she was with the company for more than 10 years.
When Thorn closed, Chris worked with John at Alphason for over 10 years and managed some of the major accounts, including John Lewis and Euronics.
When John started Big Red Sales in 2010, to provide an independent sales force for the industry, Chris undertook the role of managing the accounts office.
She was diagnosed with late stages of colon cancer in April 2020. Due to Covid restrictions, Chris, like many people, was worried about visiting the hospital for scans. However, her local doctor, realising there might be a problem, insisted she be admitted for exploratory scans.
As a result of this quick diagnosis, Chris was whisked into hospital to remove a growth, following which she underwent a series of successful chemo treatments.
Three years of treatment followed, where she went from strength to strength, continuing to work, and enjoy many lovely cruise holidays with John and the family. The pair had recently returned from a cruise around Italy and Croatia with the entire family, including their three grandchildren.
During Chris's illness, John has worked very closely with the NHS to raise money to improve staff conditions at the local hospital where Chris undertook most of her treatment. To date he has raised more than £28,000.
If you would like to contribute to this fund and help John reach his target figure of £85,000, please contact him by email at: JohnBReddington@vqmail.co.uk
Chris Reddington, wife of Big Red Sales founder, John Reddington, has died, aged 70. She had fought nearly a four-year battle with cancer.
Although well known as John’s wife, she also forged her own very successful career in the consumer electronics industry – starting in 1982, when she opened her own retail store.
Once the couple’s two children, Brian and Sarah, were at school, Chris saw a gap in the market in her local area for hi-fi products and opened an electrical shop in Basingstoke, Hampshire, with a friend and neighbour. The store did extremely well and was sold after eight years.
Chris's next job was with Thorn (Rumbelows/Radio Rentals) in Theale, Berkshire, as an assistant buyer. Quickly recognising her talent, her bosses soon promoted her to buyer and then senior buyer, and she was with the company for more than 10 years.
When Thorn closed, Chris worked with John at Alphason for over 10 years and managed some of the major accounts, including John Lewis and Euronics.
When John started Big Red Sales in 2010, to provide an independent sales force for the industry, Chris undertook the role of managing the accounts office.
She was diagnosed with late stages of colon cancer in April 2020. Due to Covid restrictions, Chris, like many people, was worried about visiting the hospital for scans. However, her local doctor, realising there might be a problem, insisted she be admitted for exploratory scans.
As a result of this quick diagnosis, Chris was whisked into hospital to remove a growth, following which she underwent a series of successful chemo treatments.
Three years of treatment followed, where she went from strength to strength, continuing to work, and enjoy many lovely cruise holidays with John and the family. The pair had recently returned from a cruise around Italy and Croatia with the entire family, including their three grandchildren.
During Chris's illness, John has worked very closely with the NHS to raise money to improve staff conditions at the local hospital where Chris undertook most of her treatment. To date he has raised more than £28,000.
If you would like to contribute to this fund and help John reach his target figure of £85,000, please contact him by email at: JohnBReddington@vqmail.co.uk
