Bob Weighton: World's oldest man dies aged 112

Bob Weighton: World's oldest man dies aged 112

- Bob Weighton became the oldest man in February 2020, following the death of Chitetsu Watanabe of Japan, who was also 112

- He died peacefully in his sleep from cancer on Thursday, May 18, at the flat where he lived

- He was born in Hull, East Yorkshire on March 29, 1908, and celebrated his last birthday behind closed doors because of the COVID-19 lockdown

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The world's oldest man, Bob Weighton, has died from cancer at the age of 112, his family has confirmed.

The former teacher and engineer from Alton, Hampshire, took up the title of the oldest man in the world in February 2020, after the death of the previous holder Chitetsu Watanabe of Japan.

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Bob Weighton: World's oldest man dies aged 112
The former teacher and engineer took up the title of the oldest man in the world in February 2020. Photo: BBC
Source: UGC

Confirming his demise, Weighton's family said in a statement that he died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, May 28, at his home.

"He died peacefully in his sleep, from cancer, ...at his flat in Alton, Hampshire, where he lived independently. Bob was the oldest man in the world," it said.

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According to the family, Weighton was an extraordinary man to the family, and not just because of the amazing age he reached.

"A role model to us all, he lived his life interested in and engaged with all kinds of people from across the world.
"He had many, many friendships and read and talked politics, theology, ecology and more right up until his death."

He was also eulogised as an environmentalist.

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The second bedroom in his flat is said to have been a workshop, filled with furniture, windmills and puzzles he made and sold in aid of charity, often from bits of wood pulled from skips.

"We are so grateful that until the very end Bob remained our witty, kind, knowledgeable, conversationalist father, grandfather and great grandfather, we will miss him greatly."

Weighton''s final birthday celebration on March 29, 2020, was held behind closed doors after the imposition of the COVID-19 lockdown.

But despite his title of world's oldest man, Weighton declined a birthday card from the Queen, saying he did not want one at the taxpayer's expense and he had received at least 10 from her already.

He was born in Kingston-Upon-Hull, Yorkshire, on March 29, 1908,

Coincidentally, that was the same day Britain's oldest woman Joan Hocquard, from Poole, Dorset was born.

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In addition, Alf Smith from St Madoes, Perthshire, Scotland, who shared the title of Britain's oldest man until his death in 2019 was also born on the same day.

During his lifetime Weighton' worked as an engineer, spending time in Taiwan, Japan, and Canada.

The father-of-three is survived by his children David and Dorothy, 10 grandchildren, and 25 great-grandchildren.

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