Britain’s oldest man who has died aged 110 years and 63 days put his long life down to a secret “elixir” he was given in India, his son has said.
Reg Dean, a former minister, died on Saturday in Wirksworth in Derbyshire at the Waltham House assisted living apartment where he had resided for the past seven years.
His son Christopher Dean said his father had only ever wanted “to make a difference” to the lives of people less fortunate than himself.
Mr Dean was heavily involved in charity work throughout his life.
Mr Dean’s son said his father had told him he had no fear at the prospect of his death.
“He told me he wasn’t at all scared,” he said.
Born in the Potteries in Tunstall on November 4 1902, Mr Dean would live to witness 24 British prime ministers and survive two world wars.
His son also said Mr Dean had always believed an “elixir” given to him in India may have played a hand in his longevity.
Mr Dean drank the foul-tasting liquid and was told he would suffer no illness until he was over 100.
“The only real illness my father then had was the infection last year, which eventually got him,” said his son.
