The break was the result of an air raid which damaged the house, injured Mrs. Ainge and left Mr. Ainge rather deaf.

In spite of their alarming experience, however, the couple are so active and well that they were dancing on Monday evening. “You ought to have seen them waltz!” declared another who was there.

Now aged 83, Mr. Ainge was born at Daventry and came to Rushden in 1882 – a year before his marriage at St. Edmund’s Church, Northampton.

He was a clicker, and worked successively for the late Mr. William Green (whose factory was in High-street South), Messrs. B. Denton and Son, Messrs. Knight Bros. and Mr. Horace Wright, retiring 12 years ago.

Lodge Founder

Mr. Ainge has been a very active man, with diverse interests. He helped to found the Myrtle Lodge of Free Gardeners, which started with 35 members, and was at the first meeting in the Coffee Tavern. The Temperance Band, he recalls, was sent round the streets to proclaim the occasion. For several years he was the secretary, attending four Annual Grand Meetings.

In the club movement he has been associated with the Working Men’s and Athletic Clubs and become a life member of the Band Club.

A skilled gardener, he laid out the lawn of the Athletic Club and used to win many prizes at the local flower shows. He still manages 22 poles of allotment ground which he has held for 40 years, and is just beginning to think it is “getting too much” – perhaps because it takes 15 minutes to reach it from his home.

In the family living room are two really excellent crayon copies of well-known pictures – evidence that Mr. Ainge has artistic gifts which ought to have been developed, though in fact he was quite untaught.

“Lived Peacefully”

Mrs. Ainge (nee Annie Maria Ayres) was born at Northampton and is 79. She told our reporter with great satisfaction: “We have never had a word with any of our neighbours. We have always lived peacefully.” She considers Rushden “a beautiful place” and declares, “You don’t have anybody come but they pass the remark that it is a clean little place.”

Mr. Ainge says that Rushden is “all the time getting better.”

They have one son, Mr. Albert Ainge, of Northampton, two daughters, Mrs. Harry Rice, of St. Mary’s-avenue, Rushden, and Mrs. George Holliday, of Winchester-road, Rushden, and four grandchildren – two boys and two girls. The grandsons are both serving in the Forces, one being in India.

The celebration at which the waltzing occurred took place at Mr. Harry Rice’s residence on Monday, the daughter-in-law making and presenting the two-tier cake.