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Tributes to Ron Fry - who strove for fair deal
A POPULAR city businessman and former councillor who worked hard to get the best but fair deal for his customers has died.
A POPULAR city businessman and former councillor who worked hard to get the best but fair deal for his customers has died.Ron Fry (77) passed away at Peterborough District Hospital on September 1 after a short illness.
Born in Bromley, South London, Mr Fry spent many years in the Royal Navy before moving to Peterborough in the early '60s with his wife-to-be Jennifer, and worked at various locations across the city, including FP Smith Motors in Bretton.
He also spent many years as a sales manager for Volkswagen, in Lincoln Road, where he was known as "Mr Volkswagen", and won an award for European Sales Manager of the Year and was presented with a diamond tie pin.
However, in the '70s Mr Fry left and set up his own business – Parker Fry Garage in Stanground, which he closed down in 1992 and reopened as Parker Fry Recovery – a family run business.
Mr Fry was still working hard in his roles as managing director of Parker Fry Recovery and joint managing director of KB Mansions, a property-letting company, in the days before he died.
Maurice Posnett, who worked with Mr Fry for 48 years at KB Mansion said: "We set up business back in the '60s when Ron wanted a long-term investment and a hobby as opposed to a business.
"We formed a great team and what made it easy was that we were opposites, he was the go getter and I liked to stay in and look after the books. We never clashed.
"Ron was like an older brother to me, except we never fell out like most brothers do."
Mr Fry also stood as a city councillor for Stanground in the '70s for nine years where his aim was to ensure council tax money was spent well and wisely, and people got good value for money.
His favourite pastimes included listening to music, particularly jazz, playing the piano and watching motor racing.
Mr Fry faced the threat of kidney failure most of his life, but it was not until 1995 that his worst fears were realised and both his kidneys stopped working properly.
He was given a kidney transplant operation at a Leicester hospital 11 years ago.
Paying tribute to his father, Mr Fry's eldest son, Geoff, said: "He was a very strong businessman who liked to work hard.
"He would get the best deal he could but would always be fair.
"He was also a good father, we never went without, even when times were tough."
Mr Fry leaves behind his wife Jennifer (75), of Cotterstock Road, Oundle, near Peterborough, four children Geoff, Debbie, Henry and Louise and five grandchildren.
His funeral will be held at Peterborough Crematorium on Friday, 12 September at 2.30pm. Instead of sending flowers, the family have requested donations be made to Kidney Research UK, Kings Chambers, Priestgate, Peterborough, PE1 1FG or visit the Kidney Research UK website - www.kidneyresearchuk.org.
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