FORMER engineer for the AA Bournemouth and Christchurch Borough Council, Gerald Lane has died at the age of 90.

Born in High Littleton, Somerset, Gerald John Lane was the younger of two sons born to William Lane, a coal miner. He left school at 14 and went to work in the coal mines.

"He was then given a job in the electrician's shop where he was expected to learn the trade as a mechanical and electrical engineer which lasted six years and proved useful later on for a life as a motor mechanic. Whilst working in the mines, a year after the end of the Second World War, he married Audrey, a girl from the next village," said his daughter Jan Lawson.

Gerald started his own garage business in a small tin shed which had been purchased from his brother-in-law's father and erected by him and his older brother Alf. Later he bought a large garage with an inspection pit and petrol sales in Writhlington, Radstock.

"In 1964 he was in the pit repairing a van when an inspection lamp fell and ignited the oil, causing a huge fire. He was trapped under the vehicle and the bottom rungs of the ladder had caught fire but he managed to push the van which had a loose handbrake, forward enough to escape. When his wife visited him he looked like a mummy, completely encased in bandages due to severe burns to his face and body, and whilst he recovered it left him very sensitive to fabrics to the skin," said Jan.

He continued to do breakdown and recovery, buying and selling cars, serving petrol, reconditioned petrol and diesel engines and was also an approved tester for MOTs.

In 1973 Gerald sold the garage and moved to Bournemouth, where the family often spent their holidays. He was employed by the AA as a regional technical engineer for five years and appeared in court to represent customers as an expert witness against shoddy workmanship and other vehicle disputes.

Prior to his retirement he was a consulting engineer with Christchurch Borough Council for two years after having been their mechanical engineer for ten years where he was responsible for the purchase and maintenance of all transport vehicles including snow ploughs and held an operator's licence. He often went down the sewers to repair machines when nobody was willing or able.

"Over the years Gerald had many commendations for his work. He was well respected and liked with a marvellous sense of humour," said Jan.

He lived in Christchurch for 30 years and in January moved to Florence Lodge Care Home, Boscombe, where he celebrated his 90th birthday.

He died on March 22 and his funeral was held at Bournemouth Crematorium on April 5. He is survived by his wife Audrey, daughters Jan and Julie, and his brother Alf.