WE'VE had an overwhelming response from readers since we published a postcard of a mystery person's funeral on Portland in 1908.

Now we know who that person was - and it turns out he was a bit of a hero.

The postcard was of the funeral of Captain Richard Lano, he died tragically young aged 36.

Here at Looking Back we were delighted to hear from Helen Gilbert, the granddaughter of Richard Lano.

Of course Helen never knew her granddad but has found out some information from her family about him.

She is also currently researching her granddad's life having found his diary and is typing out extracts.

She said: "I know that my granddad lived in a cottage on Wakeham.

"He was a captain and was in the Boer War and my brother was named after him.

"We think he died of consumption which was down to the war.

"His wife Rebecca Atwool did a year after, also of consumption."

Helen said her granddad was buried at St George's Church on Portland, but the grave was bombed.

She said: "I remember hearing tales of my granddad going over the equator and there were certain rituals he used to do. I heard lots about the Boer War.

"Growing up I was quite proud to hear about him."

Helen, 70, who still lives on Portland, said she was delighted to see the postcard of her granddad's funeral in the Echo.

She said: "I've seen photos of his funeral before, of it going down through the Straits, I have been informed it went from Rock Cottage where he lived, down the hill and that crowds of people turned out for it."

Thanks also to Stuart Morris for getting in touch and providing us with the following background information.

"Richard Lano was a volunteer in the 1st Dorsetshire Royal Garrison Artillery, and went to fight in the South African (Boer) War around the turn of the 19th/20th century.

"He was taken ill there and returned to Portland in 1901 and lauded as a hero.

"Richard was a very popular young man and was made a director of the Bath Stone Company (at Portland).

"Sadly he succumbed to his illness and died in 1908.

"The esteem he was held with is shown by the huge crowds that watched and followed his funeral procession around on the Island on March 14 1908."

Thanks als to Michael Marshall who told us a bit of background information about the Lano family. He said they were 'influential, illustrious and most respected'.

They were involved in quarrying Portland stone during the 18th and up to the middle of the 19th century.

They were also heavily involved in farming many acres on the Island, being one of the principal landowners.

They had stables and a farm in Reforne and also rented Crown Farm in Easton and its land from the Bath Stone Firms in the early part of the 20th century.

Jonathon Lano was to suffer the loss of three of his four sons, including Captain Richard Lano of the 1st Dorset Royal Artillery Volunteers.

Richard Lano had suffered consumption and a long illness following his service in the Boer War and had served in the Army Service Corps.

He was only 36 when he died, and was held in much reverence on the island.

Michael said: "After his death, the family's fortunes seemed to deteriorate and went into a gradual decline by being financially over-stretched.

"In September 1937 they ceased raising cattle and selling milk and sold their cows and dairy business.

"J. Lano & Son retained their farming and horses for hauling stone on the 'Merchants' Railway' from the Priory to the drum for which they still held the contract, until October 1939, when it closed on the outbreak of war.

"The farm, the remaining asset was sold shortly afterwards."

Reginald Lano of Stoneycroft in Wakeham, the sole surviving son of Jonathon Lano, died on 18th June 1953 aged 73 years, followed by his wife Mabel Jane Lano who died intestate in 1954.

After Fancy's Garage closed in 1991, the old farm buildings were demolished to make way for new housing, the site today being called Fancy's Close.

Michael added that there is some doubt the postcard is of the funeral of Captain Richard Lano and it could be of another well-known and respected Portlander; - Frederick James Barnes, who was another very prominent local man, a quarry owner and stone merchant.

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