Meet the Team

Will Ravenhill

Managing Director

Will takes over from Peter Woodthorpe who still remains an integral part of the business, particularly on the Professional side, but has decided after over 35 years in the business, it’s time to scale back his working hours.

Will has been an Estate Agent since 1988, starting his career with Spencers and working out of branches in Leicester, Blaby, Northampton and Market Harborough.

He joined the firm of PG Reading in 1998, with his father, David Johnson and the late Peter Reading and was an integral part over the expansion of the company over the years. This involved mergers with local firms Norman Hope and Mann in 2005 and Peter James Estates in 2011. The result of these mergers is the well respected and long established firm of Readings Property Group, that we see today.

Sean Rushton

Director

With over two decades of experience in estate agency, I embarked on my career journey at Peter James Estates, initially as a sales negotiator. Over the years, I ascended through the ranks, transitioning into the role of a valuer—a position that continues to be both challenging and fulfilling for me.

2011 marked a significant milestone in my career when Peter James Estates merged with Readings Hope & Mann. This opened doors for me to assume a managerial role within the newly formed company. Subsequently, in 2018, I achieved the position of Director at Readings Property Group.

In my capacity as a Director, I hold the responsibility of overseeing our busy sales department. My responsibility involves supporting clients in attaining a successful outcome for their properties, ensuring they obtain maximum value. Additionally, I help to navigate both buyers and sellers through the intricate journey of a property transaction, providing guidance from valuation through to completion.

Outside of the work, I find joy in spending quality time with my wife, Jo, and our 2-year-old daughter.

Raised in Leicestershire and presently living in Kirby Muxloe, I am passionate about everything the county has to offer.

James Court

Director

A Director of the company, and our resident auctioneer, James runs our auction department and works closely with the sales department. James has been working in the local property market for over 35 years. Starting at Spencers, he then moved onto senior roles at Halifax Estate Agents and Your Move. He started Peter James Estates with Peter Woodthorpe in 2000 and they soon proved to be one of the City’s most innovative Agents. PJE merged with Readings Hope and Mann in January 2011. When he’s not in the city, he’s actually a bit of a country bumpkin, enjoying donning his wellies and yomping across the fields of South Leicestershire with his wife, Jane.

Sean Sexton

RICS Chartered Surveyor Director

We were really happy to welcome Sean to the Readings team in January 2016. He’s joined our increasingly busy professional department as a Surveyor and has a great set of skills which are really going to enhance the range of services we can offer. He’s got bags of experience valuing all sorts of residential property! Outside work he lives in Whetstone and is kept busy by his 6-month-old son and 2 dogs. He supports Liverpool FC and yearns to be “The Boss.” Not the boss of Readings, but ageing rocker Bruce Springsteen!

James Beardsworth

Director

James Beardsworth BSc Hons Dip Surv & Val AssocRICS (affectionally known as “Beardy” within the office), is an integral part of our survey and professional department. He’s always in demand as a “go to” surveyor by our clients. Do you know why? Because he works hard and has an uncanny knack of knowing how to talk to people in a way that really resonates with them. He started his professional career in Business Transfer Agency (the “Wild West of Agency”-his words not ours!), before moving to Andrew Granger and Co, where he spent 4 years valuing a wide range of properties from 1 bedroom flats to million pound mansions. Their loss was our gain and since joining us in late 2019, James has fitted in so well to our multi-disciplined business model. When he’s not working his socks off here, “Beardy” likes to travel (there’s an enviable number of far flung and exotic places on his “been there” list!). He also likes socialising with friends, stand up comedy and keeping up to date with news and current affairs.

Abby Hughson

Sales Manager

Abby has been with us now for nearly 7 years and has become an integral part of the sales team. Having completed her Property Mark level 3 award in the sale of Residential Property with a 90% pass rate. She was promoted to Sales Manager to reflect her hard efforts. Colleagues and clients alike rely on Abby for her professionalism and eagerness to help and her ready smile.

Trina Chamberlain

Lettings Office Manager

Why do so many landlords and tenants love dealing with Trina? Because she gets the job done! After a career in Property Sales at Spencers Countrywide and Peter James Estates, Trina moved from our Sales department here at RPG to our Lettings Department and has been a great success. Trina manages to wind down from her high-pressure role at Readings by socialising, running, camping and attending the occasional Spa weekend!

Hassan Gaffar

Head of Commercial Property

Hassan Gaffar is definitely the “Gaffer” when it comes to his knowledge of the Leicester commercial property market! Having looked after Leicester City Council’s commercial property portfolio for a number of years, he joined us to help grow our established (but relatively small) commercial department. We’re fast developing into a bigger player in the commercial property sector, thanks to Hassan. Outside work Hassan likes watching his beloved Leicester City Football Club (Premier League Champions 2016, you know!) and spending time with his young family.

Sue Davis

Lettings Account Manager

Sue is employed by Readings as Lettings Account Manager and looks after some of the most established and highly respected landlords in Leicester. Her cool, calm and friendly demeanour is always appreciated both by her clients and fellow staff members! Out of work Sue enjoys living near the beautiful Charnwood countryside and bakes a fabulous array of cakes that would give Mary Berry a run for her money! Talking of money, Sue’s always happy to receive e-mail orders for her cakes, if you’re looking for something indulgent for a special occasion!

Louise Dexter

Administrator

Louise heads up our busy Administration department, and during her time here has created a strong rapport with our Professional Clients. She’s been with us for nearly 10 years and was with Spencers Estate Agents prior to that. Louise was PA to David Johnson, before his retirement from Readings in December 2013. Working closely with David she has built up a great understanding of various Commercial and Professional Services processes. One of the nicest, able and hard working people you could hope to find. Outside work she adores spending time with her family, who all live locally.

Elizabeth Lewin

RICS Chartered Surveyor

Lizzie joined our ever growing team of Chartered Surveyors from Mather Jamie in Loughborough, where she undertook rural property management, traditional estate management, valuation and planning and development work. She specialises in historic property management, maintenance/restoration and planning. She’s super qualified and super bubbly-definitely a “glass half full” type of person!

Lizzie moved to Readings as she’s keen to broaden her professional scope and felt that the enormous depth of professional services that we offer will help her do this. She also wanted to work here in the city centre. Which should also help with her secret passion for looking for bargains in charity shops!

Away from work, Lizzie has a busy young family, which takes up a lot of her free time. She loves to go riding, when she can find time in her busy schedule!

Julie Johns

Accountant

Julie is a highly respected local accountant, who, as well as working freelance for RPG, has a number of private clients. She works with Steve Mounfield in our busy Finance Department and helps ensure that all our bank accounts reconcile to the satisfaction of the RICS. Not a job for the faint-hearted!

Helena Johnson

Administrator

Helena is part of the glue that holds our busy departments together. The “glue” we refer to is our excellent secretarial and admin department. Having worked for Salusbury Harding and Barlow solicitors’ here in the city centre, she’s got a great knowledge of how a busy practice works. Her contribution to making sure clients get their paperwork on time is immense-multi tasking a particular skill! Outside work Helena loves travelling (sunny climes a favourite) and spending time with her family.

Jadine Walbrook

Property Manager

Jadine started her property career as an apprentice some 5 years ago, working for both independent franchises and corporate agencies.  Having joined Readings about a year ago, she is busy studying for the Property Mark Lettings and Management, level three qualification. When not looking after our tenants and landlords, Jadine enjoys walking, reading and is an accomplished artist.