Scotland's oldest man, aged 111, dies at home

The oldest man in Scotland, 111-year-old Alf Smith, passed away peacefully at home in Perthshire on Sunday morning.

Alf Smith turned 111 on March 29, 1908, the same day as Britain’s other oldest man, Robert Weighton from Hampshire.

Mr Smith shared his birthday with Englishman Bob Weighton from Alton in Hampshire but it is not known which of the two was born first. The pair never met but exchanged birthday cards every year.

Mr Smith, who lived with his daughter Irene Noble, had been living independently until he was 110. Ms Noble said her father had started to get a bit slower over the last year.

After a fall, Mr Smith was taken to Perth Royal Infirmary and came home from hospital on Friday 2 August, two days before his death.

Mr Smith worked at Goukton Farm in Kinfauns for 40 years and retired at the age of 70 but continued going to the farm in his 80s. He had been a smoker for 60 years.

Optimism key to a long life

Perth councillor Eric Drysdale paid tribute to Mr Smith tweeting: “Sad to hear this morning that Scotland’s oldest man, Perth and Kinross based Alf Smith of St Madoes has passed way aged 111 years and 128 days.

‘When he was 100 he bought a new washing machine and decided on a 10 year extended warranty!

‘Optimism seems to be the key to a long life.’

Alf Smith’s death means Bob Weighton is now officially Britain’s oldest man.

Mr Weighton celebrated his birthday last March with friends and residents at Brendoncare Alton, a charity which runs 10 care homes and ‘close care’ facilities.

'I feel he's a twin brother'

Mr Weighton always exchanged a phone call with Mr Smith on March 29th every year to talk about each other's health.

On his birthday Mr Weighton said of Alf: "It's very special, yes". "I feel he's a twin brother although technically he's not.”

In a letter Mr Smith received from 111-year-old Bob Weighton, Mr Weighton wrote: ‘One more year goes by and I hope you are both well and able to enjoy the celebrations.’

‘Do keep in touch, I wish we but had known about each other earlier,’ before signing off: ‘We've done it’.