From the Eastbourne Herald, Saturday 6 October 1951.

OLD TOWN PAIR MARRIED FOR 50 YEARS.

Mrs and Mrs Albert James Lane, aged 75 and 71, who celebrate their golden wedding to-day (Saturday), have lived for the past 31 years at 9 Victoria-gardens, Old Town, which was one of the first houses, if not the first, built by the Eastbourne Corporation on the Victoria-drive estate.

Mr Lane it a well-known Oddfellow, being a past provincial grand master of the Manchester Unity, Lewes district.

Earlier he had been chairman of both Southern lodge and Princess Alice lodge (now amalgamated with Southern). He is still a sick visitor and lecture master of the Southern lodge, in which he has three sons, a son-in-law, and three grandchildren, while two grandchildren are in the juvenile lodge.

Altogether he has been an Oddfellow since the age of 16.

"COMICAL FELLOWS"

Before coming to Eastbourne 51 years ago, Mr Lane also belonged to the Ancient Order of Comical Fellows, City of Rochester, a body very similar to the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows, but now defunct.

He still treasures his first contribution card, dated 1892, as a member of the Norman lodge. No. 9, of Comical Fellows, with headquarters at the "Norman Arms," Greenwich, as well as the emblem presented to him in January, 1899, as a past noble grand ruler.

Mr Lane, who was married at Christ Church by Canon Alfred Allen, was an upholsterer for many years in Tideswell-road until about 1918, when the business was moved to Church-street, where it is still carried on by his youngest son, Alfred Ernest.

RELIGIOUS WORK.

Oddfellowship has been only one of Mr Lane's many spare time activities. For about 18 years he was on the committee of the local branch of the Royal Surgical Aid Society, and was also its hon. auditor. He served on the Amalgamated Societies Hospital Committee for eight years; on the local Pensions Committee for 18 years, being also deputy chairman; was president of the local Friendly Societies Council for 12 years; and a governor of the Royal Eye Hospital for five years.

A work in which he has been especially interested is the Eastbourne Brotherhood, which meets at the Pevensey-road Congregational Church. In addition to being on the committee for 50 years, he was a sick visitor for 35 years and secretary for ten years, relinquishing this post a year or so ago for health reasons. He is now a vice-president.

Another religious activity was as assistant treasurer of the mission run by the Upperton Congregational Church at the Hutments, Victoria-drive, after the Great War. He was also sidesman for 21 years at the Victoria-drive Baptist Church, where his wife, a native of Great Yarmouth, sang in the choir for 21 years and was a member of the Sisterhood.

LARGE FAMILY.

Mr and Mrs Lane have six children living, 11 grandchildren and one great grandchild. The sons and daughters are: Albert Charles, painter and decorator, employed by Messrs Walter Llewellyn and Sons; Ethel Ellen, wife of Mr Dennis Payne. gardener, at Badminton, Gloucester; Frances Annie, wife of Mr J. C. Marshall, Hampden Park, an upholsterer in the employ of Messrs Rooks and Dunbar; Horace Edgar, painter and decorator, employed by Mr A. Hudson; Alfred Ernest; and Mrs Ruth Maud Seward. Another daughter, Dorothy Mabel, died at the age of four.

Owing to ill health, Mr. Lane retired from business two years ago.