FOR nearly the whole of the time there has been the name A E Lee on the High Street at Crediton, Albert Lee has lived in Crediton. On November 15 Bert celebrated his 100th birthday.

Unfortunately, his family could only stand outside the Crediton residential home where he now lives and pass on their congratulations through the window (everyone hopes there will be the chance for a proper celebration next year).

All the staff at Bert’s home did their very best to make the day a special one and he enjoyed a lovely cake and a collection of cards, including one from HM the Queen.?Number 17 High Street, where the shop is, had been a bank until 1863, before this moved to purpose-built premises across the road.

The subsequent clothing business was then bought by Bert’s father (also Albert) in 1915.

Tailoring was done in the shop until the 1930’s, so the young Albert would probably have watched the cutting and stitching work being done.

As a boy he would have seen the regular cattle markets on the High Street, the growth of the motor car, changes to street lighting and so much else.

Cattle then would have been delivered live to the slaughterhouse at the rear of A J Cox the butcher.?

Bert went to school in Crediton and joined the RAF, returning home in 1946 after five-and-a-half years’ as an instrument repairer, which included a period of service in Egypt.

Because his father was in poor health, Bert took over the complete running of the business. ?Although this left little free time, he thoroughly enjoyed travelling abroad on numerous holidays with his family and attending whist drives whenever he was able.

?Having met on a coach tour to Europe, Bert and Jean were married in Suffolk in 1956.

They had three sons and as these grew older Jean worked as a teacher at Landscore School. Bert has five grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Simon, Bert’s youngest son, took over the business in 1993 and he continues to live over the shop with his wife and two children.

This makes Simon the third generation of the family to run the business, which could make this the oldest family shop in Crediton and possibly the oldest gents’ outfitters in Devon!