Noordhoek resident and the former owner of AP Jones, one of the first businesses in Fish Hoek, Fritz Bing, has died.
Mr Bing died on Sunday September 24, two days after his 89th birthday. He has lived in Noordhoek for more than 60 years.
AP Jones was founded by Albert Pascoe Jones and his wife, Florence, in 1928.
Their youngest daughter, Jennifer, married Mr Bing who bought the store from the Jones family in 1984.
Today, the business is owned and run by Mr Bing’s son, Greg, and his granddaughter, Lauren, who joined the business about five years ago.
Tributes poured in on social media with Keith Richardson, the 13th headmaster of Wynberg Boys’ High, recalling how he had met Mr Bing, who was head prefect in 1952.
He recalls meeting him around 1975 while buying some of the school’s cricket equipment from AP Jones.
“We hit it off from that moment on. A mutual love of cricket and a similar sense of humour ensured a lifelong friendship,” he said.
He added that Mr Bing’s legacy would live on through his sons, Rick, Greg, Brad, and Jon, who inherited his love of cricket and his sense of humour.
The Claremont Cricket Club also paid its respects to Mr Bing in a statement:
“Fritz has a long history with Claremont Cricket Club, spanning over 70 years. He was a former first XI captain, chairman, and president of the club. The club would like to send its heartfelt condolences to Fritz’s wife Jenny, the Bing family, and friends. Fritz was an honorary life member and patron of the club, and played an integral part in building the club to what it is and stands for today,” the statement read.
Mr Bing is survived by his wife, Jenny, four sons, and 10 grandchildren.
The date for his celebration of life has yet to be confirmed.
