WAR veteran, ex councillor, former citizen of the year, past school governor, eminent local historian and much-loved Rayleigh resident Ernie Lane has died aged 102. Ernie suffered a stroke on December 10 and died on Sunday. He had been housebound for some-time but had been lovingly cared for by Bet – his wife of 73 years – and was in regular contact with his two daughters, four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Known affectionately as “Mr Rayleigh”, Ernie was thought to have lived in the town longer than anyone else in history. He even has a road named in his honour and his contribution to shaping and improving Rayleigh cannot be underestimated.