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Before relocating from London to Suffolk to start his scrap dealership and recycling business, Frederick Cook said he had never even heard of Assington.
Little did he know, and much to his surprise, the family connections to the village go way back.
Having recently learned that his great-grandfather was also an Assington businessman, Fred said he feels it was his destiny to move there – and he hopes to honour these ancestral ties with his plans to support the community.
Fred is well-known in the area as the owner of Assington Autos, which he founded in 2016, and which has now grown into the village’s largest employer.
When a relative began researching their family history, it came to light that his great-great-grandparents, William and Charlotte Cook, had also lived in Assington during Victorian times.
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Born in 1836, William had worked as the village’s boot and shoemaker. His son, Albert, moved away to Battersea, before the next generation of the family settled in the East End of London.
Describing his reaction at learning of the family links to the area, Fred told Suffolk News: “I was gobsmacked.
“I always thought the family was from east London – I didn’t even know Assington existed.
“I initially came here to rent a yard, and then took a massive leap of faith that I could make a business work. I’ve been so lucky here. This is a very small village, and I’ve managed to come back to my roots.
“I was flabbergasted to find out of my strong family connection to Assington. It was truly amazing. I’m fully dedicated to helping the village community as a gesture of my thanks and heritage.
“I love Assington. I now feel it was my destiny to move my family here. It’s not only my place of business, but my home too.
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“I’m looking forward to investigating my family tree further back in time. It’s highly likely that some of the villagers here are related.”
In recognition of his Assington heritage, Fred reiterated his commitment to helping local causes, including donating to the village and sponsoring the local football team.
In addition, he also emphasised the importance of environmental sustainability, setting out his ambition to achieve net-zero carbon emissions from his business by 2040.
“I believe we all need to look after our planet, however big or small,” he added.
“When I compare my great-great-grandparents’ lifetime to current times, I will admit that the worsening global climate crisis troubles me. I worry about the future of the younger generations, including my own children.
“At Assington Autos, it’s not just about creating good jobs and generating tax revenues. It’s also about sustainability and recycling up to 99 per cent of the vehicles we harvest.
“I intend to plant over 1,000 trees and shrubs shortly on the site, and I intend to start powering my vehicle fleet with electricity, with the potential installation of solar paneling throughout the site.
“I hope my great-great-grandparents would both be proud of me.
“In their name, I will start Assington Autos on the journey to achieve a prestigious Suffolk Carbon Charter award, with the commitment to be net zero by 2040.”
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