This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-20930116
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Reg Dean, Britain's oldest man, dies aged 110 | Reg Dean, Britain's oldest man, dies aged 110 |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Britain's oldest man has died at the age of 110 years and 63 days. | Britain's oldest man has died at the age of 110 years and 63 days. |
| Former church minister Reg Dean lived through two world wars and 24 British prime ministers. | Former church minister Reg Dean lived through two world wars and 24 British prime ministers. |
| Born in Tunstall, Staffordshire, on 4 November 1902, Mr Dean died at his home in Wirksworth, Derbyshire, on Saturday. | Born in Tunstall, Staffordshire, on 4 November 1902, Mr Dean died at his home in Wirksworth, Derbyshire, on Saturday. |
| The former army chaplain became Britain's oldest man after the death of 110-year-old Stanley Lucas, from Cornwall, in June 2010. | The former army chaplain became Britain's oldest man after the death of 110-year-old Stanley Lucas, from Cornwall, in June 2010. |
| He was married three times and had one son and two grandchildren. | He was married three times and had one son and two grandchildren. |
| John Neaum, who met Mr Dean in the 1960s, said his close friend was a "multi-talented" character, who wrote short stories, founded the Dalesmen Male Voice Choir and took up painting at the age of 80. | John Neaum, who met Mr Dean in the 1960s, said his close friend was a "multi-talented" character, who wrote short stories, founded the Dalesmen Male Voice Choir and took up painting at the age of 80. |
| "He always looked for the best in people," he said. "He gave a lot of people a lot of deep joy." | "He always looked for the best in people," he said. "He gave a lot of people a lot of deep joy." |
| 'Lazy bones' | 'Lazy bones' |
| Mr Dean became ordained in the Church of England in the 1920s and served as an army chaplain in Burma during World War II. | |
| In 1958, he became a teacher at Herbert Strutt School in Belper, Derbyshire, where he worked for 10 years. | In 1958, he became a teacher at Herbert Strutt School in Belper, Derbyshire, where he worked for 10 years. |
| Mr Dean was proud of bringing Fair Trade to Wirksworth, having set up a shop in the home he shared with his third wife, Mr Neaum said. | Mr Dean was proud of bringing Fair Trade to Wirksworth, having set up a shop in the home he shared with his third wife, Mr Neaum said. |
| He was a vegetarian for more than 30 years and was a minister with both the Church of England and later the United Reform Church, only retiring when he was 80. | He was a vegetarian for more than 30 years and was a minister with both the Church of England and later the United Reform Church, only retiring when he was 80. |
| Mr Dean once said the secret of his longevity was being lazy. | Mr Dean once said the secret of his longevity was being lazy. |
| Speaking at a party for his 109th birthday, he said: "I'm a member of the august fellowship known as 'lazy bones'." | Speaking at a party for his 109th birthday, he said: "I'm a member of the august fellowship known as 'lazy bones'." |
| Mr Dean had been living for some years at Waltham House, which is an extra care scheme for older people run by Housing 21. | Mr Dean had been living for some years at Waltham House, which is an extra care scheme for older people run by Housing 21. |
| Helen Hart, locality manager, said: "We are very sad to hear of the death of Reg Dean. | Helen Hart, locality manager, said: "We are very sad to hear of the death of Reg Dean. |
| "He was an inspiration to us all and will be greatly missed." | "He was an inspiration to us all and will be greatly missed." |