Walking up Newton Road on stilts as a boy was one memory vividly recalled by 72-years-old Mr. Ainge. It was no schoolboy game, but a necessity, for in those days the road was little more than a lane, and a very wet, muddy one at that.

A lively 72, Mr. Ainge retired from his job with the Coxton Shoe Co., last year after 43 years’ service. Now prevented from being as active as he would wish, because of trouble with one leg, he keeps an eye on everything that goes on by the newspapers which he reads from cover to cover.

“I believe in getting my money’s worth,” he said with a grin, when he and his 70-year-old wife, Elizabeth, entertained our reporter in their sitting room.

Both of them have lived in Rushden since early childhood and they are members of large families. Mr. Ainge was the eldest boy in a family of ten composed of five girls and five boys. Each of the boys was apprenticed to a different trade; his being upholstery, but nearly all of them went into the shoe trade eventually.

A special anniversary surprise for them was to learn that their four children, Mrs. W. Abbott, Mrs. D. Brown, Mrs. E. Cumper and Mr. D. Ainge had planned a family party for them. The thirty-six people who assembled at the Westward Hotel to drink their health were nearly all relations and among them were five grandchildren.

Mr. Ainge used to be a member of the Rushden Athletic Club and was on the committee for several years. He also belonged to the Football Club and was for 12 years on the Band Club committee.