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Robert Weighton, from the UK, has been named the world’s oldest living man by Guinness World Records. Born on March 29, 1908, Weighton is 112 years and two days old.
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Because of social distancing guidelines, the Guinness World Records team were unable to meet him in person as they normally do. Instead, the assisted living home where he stays arranged for Happy Birthday to be sung to him on his balcony and then presented him with a certificate of his record.
He was named the world's oldest living man after the previous record holder, Chitetsu Watanabe of Japan, passed away on February 23 at 112 years and 355 days.
On receiving the record, he said: “I can’t say I am pleased to hear that the previous holder has died but I am very pleased that I've been able to live so long and make so many friends”.
Weighton was born in Kingston-upon-Hull, Yorkshire, and is one of seven children. He has spent time abroad teaching in Taiwan and studying in Japan. He also lived in Canada and eventually returned to the UK once the Second World War ended.
As of 2016, he had ten grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. He became a supercentenarian in March, 2018.
The current record holder for the world’s oldest living person is Kane Tanaka from Japan. Her age is 117 years and 88 days. The oldest person to ever live was Jeanne Louise Calment, who lived to be 122 years and 164 days.