Scotland’s oldest man celebrates turning 109

Alf enjoys good life

Scotland’s oldest man has celebrated his latest milestone at home in Perthshire.

At 109, Alf Smith shares the title of the UK’s oldest man, as well as his birthday, with Bob Weighton from Hampshire, indicating that there could be something special about March 29, 1908.

His daughter, Irene Noble, was with Mr Smith at his home in St Madoes to welcome well-wishers and guests throughout the day on his birthday.

He celebrated the anniversary with a smoked haddock lunch and poached egg.

Mr Smith has previously credited his longevity to eating porridge with sugar and milk each morning. He also enjoys games of Scrabble, and even smoked for much of his life.

Mrs Noble joked: “Dad smoked until he was 80 – that’s the secret to living to 109.” Born in Invergowrie, the fifth of six sons, Mr Smith was a pupil at Invergowrie Primary School and Harris Academy, Dundee, before leaving school at 14.

In 1926 he moved to Canada where he and his eldest brother ran their own farm.

Mrs Noble previously told the PA: “They went to this place called Govan, because they thought it sounded Scottish. They had drought, hail, everything. The crops were a washout.”

Three years later when his father died he had to return to Scotland to help his brother George run the family farming business.

Mr Smith married Isobel Harper in 1937. She died in 2003 at the age of 97. They had two children, Mrs Noble, and her brother Allan, who died last year.

He also has grandchildren Neil and Iain Smith. Iain has followed in his grandfather’s footsteps and moved to Canada and also married a woman called Isobel.

Mrs Noble added: “He thinks he’s had quite a good life.”