Fred Knight, founder and former owner of F. Knight & Sons, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Thursday night.
Thanks to Mike, his Grandson, for letting me know as many people will remember him. Mike says that Fred was a good man, and he did a lot for and in the town, and wants to see him commemorated for all he did to make Abingdon a better place.
The advert is from the 1972 Abingdon Who’s Who.
I am too newly arrived to Abingdon (6 years ago0 to have known Mr Knights; I have frequently been glad that he had the vision and perseverance to start and grow his business.
May he rest in peace.
The Balsa bashers of the ’60s remember him fondly. What a wonderful Aladdin’s cave that shop was.
RIP Fred.
Fred was indeed a good man, kind and helpful. His was the first port of call for almost all hardware and building materials and his friendly advice was second to none.
I remember the entry in the 1972 Abingdon Who’s Who, as I arrived in Abingdon the previous Christmas and lived close to his West End shop. I still have a wide range of tools, of very good quality, bought from him in the seventies, and often think of Fred when I use them, even remembering snippets of conversations from when I bought them.
Fred was one of those people you are grateful to have met on your journey in life. A charitable and kind man who will be universally missed. RIP Fred.
How very sad – a great and kind man who, in business and in life, showed how things could and should be done. F Knight & Son has run like a seam through our lives in Abingdon, from the days when his shop was at one end of Edward Street (where we lived) and Day’s the baker was at the other, through its various moves until it reached its current impressive premises. Fred was always cheerful and generous, and a fund of good advice for DIY incompetents like us. Our thoughts are with his children – chips off the old woodblock – and the rest of his family.
my grandfather was the best granddad in the world, when we were kids he would never tell us off, he would always see the funny side of things, always trying to make you laugh. He will always be with me.
I love you Grampy………. hope your keeping those angels in check and making them laugh too.
Rest in peace, don’t forget to do what your best at……….. I can hear you now, laughing and joking xxx
Mike, I love you xxx
Spent hours in Bath street browsing plastic models.
Dad spending hours getting those tools and supplies couldn’t get anywhere else. (Carpenter).
Condolences from Colin Bartlett