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Church Honours Britain's Oldest Man

Saturday May 13 2017

The Church of Scotland has honoured the UK’s joint-oldest man with a unique lifetime of service award.

109-year-old Alfred Smith, from the village of St Madoes in Perthshire, has been a member of the Church since 1945 and an elder since 1967. He shares the distinction of being Britain's oldest man with Bob Weighton, of Alton in Hampshire, who was also born on March 29 1908.

The Moderator of the General Assembly, the Rt Rev Dr Russell Barr, visited Mr Smith at home in the Carse of Gowrie to present the award on behalf of the Church.

Mr Barr said: “Of all the many people I have met during my year as Moderator, Alfred Smith is one of the most remarkable.

“At 109 years old he retains a lively sense of humour, a continuing interest in life, including the life of the church, and he is a great storyteller.

“It was a privilege to meet him and some of his family, and to offer him my warmest congratulations.”

Mr Smith said: “It is just wonderful to have a visit from the Moderator. How he finds time to see me is quite something. I have always loved the Church as it has given me so much over the years.”

Asked what was his secret to a long and happy life, the former farmer said: “Porridge is helpful and having a job you enjoy. I like to think I’ve lived a decent life. I do ask myself – why me? Why have I lived so long when others haven’t?”

Mr Smith was born in Invergowrie in 1908, the fifth of six sons of John and Jessie Smith.

He was educated at Invergowrie Primary School and Harris Academy, Dundee. He emigrated to Canada, along with four of his brothers, in 1927 but returned after five years and went on to drive lorries for his brother, George. During the Second World War, he served in the Home Guard.

He married Isobel when he was 29 and the couple went on to farm at Kinfauns, where they raised two children, Irene and Allan.

Mrs Smith died almost 14 years ago, aged 97. Allan, who worked with his father on the farm for 40 years, passed away last year.

Mr Smith retired at the age of 70 but continued to go to the farm until well into his eighties.

A member of the Free Church in Invergowrie until 1945, Mr Smith then became a member of the Church of Scotland and attended Kinfauns Parish Church, which later united with Kilspindie and St Madoes.

Minister of St  Madoes and Kinfauns Parish Church, the Rev Marc Bircham, said: “It has been a great joy and privilege to be Alf's minister and friend. He is a blessing to our congregation and community and on a personal level he has been a great encourager to myself, not least by referring to me as 'young man'.”

His daughter said he took his responsibilities as an elder very seriously, visiting all his allocated members frequently, particularly those who were unable to attend church.

She added: “He did a lot of the organising for services, collection and distribution of Harvest offerings. He brought the organist to and from the church from Perth, and along with his son, did a lot of day-to-day maintenance of the church building.”


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