Reg Dean, a former Church minister, from Derbyshire died last sunday at the age of 110 years and 63 days. He was the oldest man in Britain.

During his lifetime he witnessed two world wars and 24 prime ministers.

Born in Tunstall, Staffordshire, on 4 November 1902, Mr Dean died at his home in Wirksworth, Derbyshire, on Saturday. He was married three times and had one son and two grandchildren. he served as an army chaplain in Burma during WWll

He often said his longevity was down to his ‘laziness” but his list of activities says otherwise. He was ordained in the Church of England and in 1958 became a teacher. He founded the Dalesman Voice Chair on 1987, took up painting at 80 and wrote short stories. Interestingly he was also a vegetarian.

His son, Chris Dean said he father attributed four reasons for living to a great age:

• always look for the best in people not the worst
• the love of God whoever that god or faith may be
•  doing things for the kindness and not for the prize or the reward and, lastly
•  being vegetarian, which he was for 30 years.