Cecil Lane (buried 1898)

Cecil was born in Brighton, the son of Captain Richard Douglas-Lane and his wife Elizabeth. He was baptised at Wrotham on 1st February 1857. Cecil's father was a retired Captain in the 17th Lancers and the family used the name Douglas-Lane on most occasions. The family were wealthy and by 1861 were living in Dibden in Essex. Richard and his sons were all involved in the horse racing fraternity, breeding, owning and working on various racecourses as starters and stewards. Cecil was sent to Eton and then to Oxford but was not attached to any particular college. In 1882, he was Universities Billiards Champion. By 1891, Cecil was living in Brighton and occasionally stewarding at Plumpton. His brother Reginald lived in St Michael's Road, Worthing with his wife Lucy. He died in December 1892 and was buried at Heene. Cecil died at 8 Little Preston Street, Brighton on 23rd February 1898. He had been suffering for over a month with bronchitis. Probate was firstly granted on 2nd April 1898 to Richard Douglas Hay Lane esquire. Before it could be finalised, Richard died and a new executor was appointed. Probate was again granted on 22nd January 1902 to Charles Stewart Douglas Wade solicitor. Cecil and his brother Reginald were buried next to each other at Heene, together with Lucy, Reginald's wife.

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