Sponsored by the Tile Association

TTA is sad to report that Chris Myatt passed away on 19^th December 2021. Chris was known to many in the industry as an active member of the TTA Training Committee, with boundless enthusiasm for training and improving the knowledge and expertise of his colleagues.

“News of Chris’s untimely passing has been received with great sadness by all of us at TTA and also in the wider industry,” says David Rowley, Chairman of the TTA Training Committee. “I feel privileged to have worked with Chris on many training initiatives. His contribution was massive and it was a real pleasure to have been able to call him both a friend and a colleague.”

Chris was the National Training Manager at Mapei UK, where he played a major role in the transformation of training courses, since joining in 2008. A skilled professional, and inspiring individual, he will be profoundly missed by his Mapei family and the wider tile industry.

During his time at Mapei, Chris trained thousands of people across tiling, flooring and building products adapting his sessions to the needs of his audience with his own unique style. He was always at his best when helping and supporting tradespeople reach their full potential. Chris very much enjoyed visiting Mapei SpA Milan in 2015, seeing how training was conducted at HQ, then generating new ideas for improvements in the UK. It was no surprise in 2016 when he was awarded Employee of the Year by The Tile Association. 

Chris was a key contributor to the development of not only the training facility Mapei Academy, but also the employees and brand of Mapei. His legacy will continue long into the future.

Prior to his time at Mapei, Chris had spent 17 years at B&B Office Equipment where he progressed from Apprentice Electro-Mechanical Engineer to Training Manager and then 12 years as a Training Officer at Building Adhesives Ltd. For many years Chris also contributed to The Tile Association as a valued member of the Training Committee.  

Mapei have also released the following words from Chris’ wife Sharon:

“Chris was a loving, kind, and generous husband, dad, grandad, and son. A loyal and true friend to many.

From the very beginning family life has always been his priority. Many, many holidays were enjoyed, it never mattered where in the world we spent our time. It was always quality time together. Some of his favourite holidays have been spent in Las Vegas and New York for his 40^th birthday, Rhodes for his 50^th with family, cruising the Caribbean, and Cornwall with family and our Jack Russell – Percy. Chris enjoyed family meals, days out, live music gigs, football matches (watching Port Vale home and away), horse racing meetings. He would often have the odd flutter and he especially loved the Cheltenham festival. 

Chris liked gardening, particularly growing vegetables and sharing the fruits of his labour.

Chris loved to unwind on the odd night after work and at weekends at the pub with his mates, putting the world to rights over a game of cards and a Low C. He invested in Euro and World Cup sweepstakes and any sweep stake that was going. He was rarely successful but was always lured in by the chance of picking a winner.

It’s been difficult to sum up our memories, there have been so many. Chris was my best friend. We will continue to be extremely proud of Chris and his achievements. We knew he was popular; it is only now that we realise how popular and well thought of he was. He will live on in our lives forever.”