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UK's oldest man celebrates 110th birthday UK's oldest man celebrates 110th birthday
(7 days later)
Britain's oldest man has attributed reaching his 110th birthday to a combination of idleness and drinking a mysterious potion as a boy.Britain's oldest man has attributed reaching his 110th birthday to a combination of idleness and drinking a mysterious potion as a boy.
Former church minister Reg Dean, from Wirksworth, Derbyshire, said the secret of his longevity was being lazy. Born in Tunstall, Staffordshire, on 4 November 1902,Former church minister Reg Dean, from Wirksworth, Derbyshire, said the secret of his longevity was being lazy. Born in Tunstall, Staffordshire, on 4 November 1902,
Dean added that his life span may also be due to a brown elixir a doctor in Bombay gave him just before the first world war. "He said 'if you drink this you will live for ever' – and this is the result," he told the Derbyshire Times.Dean added that his life span may also be due to a brown elixir a doctor in Bombay gave him just before the first world war. "He said 'if you drink this you will live for ever' – and this is the result," he told the Derbyshire Times.
Dean has been married three times, and lived through two world wars and 24 prime ministers. He worked as a minister until his retirement aged 80. A public concert was held on Saturday to celebrate his birthday. Asked how he felt, he told the BBC: "A year older than when I was 109!"Dean has been married three times, and lived through two world wars and 24 prime ministers. He worked as a minister until his retirement aged 80. A public concert was held on Saturday to celebrate his birthday. Asked how he felt, he told the BBC: "A year older than when I was 109!"
Dean became Britain's oldest man after Stanley Lucas, from Cornwall, died in June 2010, aged 110. The world's oldest living man is Jiroemon Kimura from Japan, aged 115.Dean became Britain's oldest man after Stanley Lucas, from Cornwall, died in June 2010, aged 110. The world's oldest living man is Jiroemon Kimura from Japan, aged 115.
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