AN ESTATE agent was given the shock of his life after visiting what he believed to be a vacant South Reading property in 2001.
Not expecting to find anyone there, he was surprised to be confronted by a four-legged resident, namely, Polly the pot-bellied pig.
Left behind when the previous owners moved out of the property, Polly was facing a rather abrupt eviction to the slaughterhouse if alternative accommodation could not be found.
After weeks of searching, an animal rescue charity stepped in and an emergency licence was approved by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to move Polly into permanent accommodation.
The move proved not to be as straightforward as expected as Polly’s move coincided with the nationwide foot-and-mouth outbreak, meaning she had to quarantine for some time before her situation was fully resolved.
Whitley Community Museum curator David Turner explained: “During my time researching historical moments in Whitley’s history, I have been told many interesting, and sometimes humorous, stories by residents. None more so than that of Polly.
“During the decades of mobile shops and use of allotments, it was not unusual for residents to have chickens and pigs in their back gardens.
“In the deeds of my own house, it actually states chickens are allowed to be kept in the garden. Pigs are known to have been kept on certain allotments.
“In the case of Polly, she was more of a pet however.”
With more than 5,000 followers on Facebook, the Whitley Community Museum is an accessible online and in-person resource.
The group serves as a platform for residents past and present to share memories through photographs and comments.
It also allows group members to reconnect, with members reacquainting themselves with friends and schoolmates from decades ago.
The museum held a Whitley Way Back When event at the Community Cafe on Northumberland Avenue earlier this year to showcase its photographs and exhibits in-person.
For more information, search: Whitley Community Museum on www.facebook.com
