A 'Steam Party' was held at the East Anglia Transport Museum (EATM) as two of the original volunteers each clocked up a total of 50 years working at the site.

Lowestoft Journal: Ken and Bernie Ward. Pictures: Mick HowesKen and Bernie Ward. Pictures: Mick Howes (Image: Archant)

Brothers Kenneth and Bernie Ward were joined by friends, family, members of EATM and other steam enthusiasts to mark their milestone at the museum on Chapel Road, Carlton Colville.

The party started when guests were treated to a trip to the countryside in a Sentinel steam bus that was visiting from the Bressingham Steam Museum.

Both of the museum's steam rollers - a 1926 Aveling & Porter and a 1923 Armstrong Whitworth, that the Ward brothers had tendered so carefully over the years - were fired up and set 'in steam' for the afternoon.

To the accompaniment of a 1946 Belgium Café Organ from Stalham, guests also enjoyed a buffet as the brothers looked back over their years at the museum.

Kenneth, 67, said that when they joined the museum in 1965, the site was just a field and there were very few facilities.

But after the hard work of the two brothers, the museum was able to open to the public in 1972.

Their contribution also included helping to lay the original tram tracks, driving the ex-Lowestoft Corporation steam roller and, more recently, acting as guards and drivers on the narrow gauge railway along with general site maintenance.

'We have still got a passion for steam and for the museum,' Kenneth said.

'The volunteers here are all fantastic and it has been a pleasure working with them over the years.'

The brothers have been involved in all aspects of the museum and, over the years, have been regularly entered both steamrollers into the Lowestoft Carnival Parade as well as taking them to the Henham Steam Rally.

The Ward brothers also encouraged more younger people to help out as they both intend to continue with their love of steam and of vintage transport by volunteering at the site for as long as is feasible.

For more information about the museum, visit www.eatm.org.uk

? Do you know someone marking an important milestone? Email joe.randlesome@archant.co.uk