THE sister of a pedestrian killed in a horrific car crash in East Street last weekend has paid tribute to her “troubled” but hugely popular little brother.

Chris Wenham, 45, died after he was hit by a Peugeot 206 at around 2.20pm on Saturday between the Anderson’s and Thai Lotusland restaurants.

According to Chris’s older sister, Sue Richards, eye witnesses said he simply looked the wrong way and stepped off the pavement directly into the path of the car.

Several people including an off-duty police officer rushed to his aid and administered CPR before the emergency services and an air ambulance arrived.

However, despite their heroic efforts Chris was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sue told The Herald she places no blame for her brother’s death on the driver of the Peugeot, who she added are in her family’s “thoughts and prayers”.

She also thanked all those who rushed to Chris’s aid, as well as the police officer Pc Darren Furniss who stayed with her mother, Sybil, for a number of hours following her son’s tragic death.

“Chris was well known and liked in Farnham,” Sue said. “He was troubled all his life with mental health issues, but was a great help to our mother with whom he spent much of his time.

“Despite heavy medication he maintained a sharp sense of humour and was incredibly caring to his close friends.

“Sadly his best friend, who also had severe mental problems, died last year from leukaemia and Chris was still struggling to come to terms with that at the time of his accident.

“Possibly due to his mental demons and heavy medication, he made an error of judgement and stepped into traffic on East Street on Saturday. But he is now at rest.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the driver of the car involved and we hope they may recover promptly from this trauma. They were obviously not at fault at all and they must be going through hell.”

Sue also thanked all those who have supported her brother over the years, including Transform Housing and Support and Chris’s key worker, as well as all the well-wishers for their kind messages on social media, and particularly the founders of a fundraising page raising money towards her brother’s funeral costs.

However, she added that as Chris received disability benefits, they are expecting a contribution from the Government and so are unable to accept any gifts at this time.

Instead, the family has asked for donations to be made in his memory to Farnham-based charity Creative Response, which supports people with mental health issues through art. Donations can be made online at www.creativeresponsearts.org.

Sue added she had her fair share of blazing rows with her brother over the years, but is “so happy” that her last memory of Chris was a good one.

“I saw him on Monday last week and we had a lovely time at Elstead Mill with our mum, so I’m really pleased I have that lovely last memory of him,” she continued.

“We were close as a family, and I also had just taken them on a trip to Worthing for my mum’s birthday.”

Chris Wenham was born on January 2, 1971, at Farnham Hospital - the second and last child of Sybil and Joseph ‘Joby’ Wenham, and grandson of a well-known character of the Farnham community Charlie Wenham.

He grew up at the family home in Greenfield Road, Wrecclesham, but, according to his sister, struggled with mental illness “from the word go” and bounced around several special needs schools in the area before eventually coming under the care of Transform, moving into one of the charity’s flats in East Street.

He was a huge fan of science fiction and particularly Dr Who, and also loved music and films - possessing a vast music and DVD collection.

This, Sue added, provided a great distraction as it helped subdue his schizophrenia and the voices he commonly heard in his head.

Chris also loved drinking coffee and was “always in and out of” coffee shops in the town, especially Caffè Nero in Castle Street.

“He used to go in there a lot and they were so lovely to him and to mum,” said Sue. “Sometimes they would even let him keep a tab and I remember going in there with him once and he introduced me to the staff. They were so sweet.

“He also got on very well with the lovely ladies in the Spire Cafe in the United Reformed Church and they were always very helpful.

“In fact all of his friends I have met seemed incredibly friendly and patient, because he did have his moments.”

Chris’s family are still awaiting the results of his post-mortem, but have promised to confirm his funeral arrangements in due course.

• Surrey Police are appealing for witnesses following the fatal collision and are keen to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident or the movements of the victim or the Peugeot 206 beforehand.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Surrey Police by calling 101 or reporting it online at www.surrey.police.uk and quoting the reference number P16229845.

East Street was closed for several hours between the junctions with Guildford Road and Hale Road and Dogflud Way following the crash.