LANE grandparents

Harry (snr), Florrie and Harry (jnr) LANE

at Vista Road, Newton-In-Makerfield

 

Harry LANE
(1928-1973)

He was born at 184 Crow Lane West, Newton-In-Makerfield to Harry LANE (of Fairfield, Vista Road, Newton) and Florrie LANE (nee OGDEN); the eldest son of two, his brother Kenneth (Ken) LANE was born in 1933.
He was baptised on 05th December 1928 at St John's Parish Church of Earlestown and was placed on the Baptism Roll for the Sunday School in January 1929. As well as his father, his aunt and uncle, William and Olive GEE (nee OGDEN) were sponsors.
He attended The District School on Market Street, Earlestown (demolished and now Somerfield supermarket) before attending the Secondary Modern High School on Patterson Street (now a primary school).

 

He left school and became a pharmacy assistant for Boots The Chemist at 32 Market Street, Earlestown and during National Service, he went on to become a medical orderly in the RAF, based in Padgate, then Hereford and also Tring.

 

In a photo dated March 1947, he is pictured as part of No. 4 Flight 'A' Squadron 1 RC Wing, which also shows Sir Brian RIX (actor) as part of the same bunch. Fortunately for my Nan, 2341374 AC 2 LANE H, was invalided out due to his asthma before the Squadron where posted out to Hong Kong.

He had served almost 12 months.

When he left the RAF he became a manager of Benefit Shoes in Runcorn and later became a salesman for Bennett's Confectioners of Delamere Street, Warrington.

Before he died he had been working for several years as an omnibus driver for the Ribble Bus Corporation of Wigan.

Most of his home life was spent either at Vista Road or Laurel Avenue before settling in to the family home in 1954 on Barnett Avenue. At this point he had been married to my Nan (nee JONES) since 1947 and had five children to his name. He had a weakness for Trebor mints I believe and he loved going out for a late night drive, while the roads where empty around the Northwest, something I have always loved doing too! Sometimes he would take his brother-in-law, Mr. JONES, with him.

Tragically he died of a heart attack at his parents home (both still alive then) on 20th December 1973 at a tender age of 45. At this time, two of his children were married with a child each, three had relationships that would result in marriage and two were still at school.

A plaque at the Newton-Le-Willows Cemetery, Garden of Rememberance commemorates him.

Grandad (Harry) and Nana LANE, c1973

My Nana LANE (nee JONES) is alive and well; we had a family celebration for her 80th birthday in 2007 at The Bulls Head Public House, Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire. Sadly it has now closed and is being converted into offices (@2010).