Britain's Oldest Man Dies

Best wishes from Reg Dean, shortly before he died at the age of 110.

Britain's oldest man Reg Dean, who died on Saturday, was born in 1902 the year after Queen Victoria died. He had lived through four crowned monarchs and 21 Prime Ministers.

Speaking in 2011 he said there were three questions "that you must learn to try and answer.

"One is, who am I? Two is, why am I here? And three is, where am I going?"

The son of Britain's oldest man who has died said his father had only ever wanted "to make a difference" to the lives of those less fortunate.

Reg Dean was heavily involved in charity work throughout his life and completed a sponsored walk from Nottingham to Derby at the age of 90.

Later, he set up a Fairtrade store in his downstairs lounge, when he still lived at home, calling the franchise Traidcraft - it became Traid Links and continues to successfully operate in Wirksworth to this day.

Mr Dean's son Christopher, said his father had told him he had no fear at the prospect of his death.

Christopher Dean said faith had been a key part of his father's life, and one of the principles he had always credited with his long life.

Britain's oldest man Reg Dean has died, aged 110 years and 63 days. He was born in Staffordshire and a long-standing member of the Dalesmen male voice choir in Derbyshire.

He was the choir's life president, and helped to found the group in the 1980s.

When he turned 101, ITV Central spoke to the active choir member and his fellow singers.

Reg Dean from Tunstall in Staffordshire has died aged 110 years and 63 days.

Speaking in 2011 he told ITV Central that there are three questions everyone should ask themselves.

• Who am I?

• Why am I here?

• Where am I going?

He admitted, however, to not knowing the answers.

He was an army chaplain in Burma and was shot at by the Japanese.

He was born in 1902 and has lived through five monarchs. The Wright brothers achieved the first manned flight just after his 1st birthday, and the Titanic sank when he was ten years old.