A COPY of the book written by Alton resident Bob Weighton – who was the oldest man in the world when he died in 2020 aged 112 – has been donated to Alton Library by his 
grandson.

Last Thursday Magnus Weighton gave a spare copy of We Were Seven & other memories to the library so it again contains one the public can borrow. Its previous copy became worn and was retired to the archives.

Magnus said: “He was a very active member of the Alton community in many areas and many will be pleased to know this book of his extraordinary life is available.

“Wonderfully written, it covers his early life in Hull at the beginning of the century, a brave move to Taiwan and Japan, escape to and life in the USA during the war and his efforts towards it, and family life and exploits along the way.”

The family’s eulogy to Bob described him as an “extraordinary man” and a role model who was interested in and engaged with all kinds of people from across the world, viewing everyone as his brother or sister and believing in loving, accepting and caring for one another. He had many friendships, read and talked politics, theology and ecology until he died, and also cared greatly for the environment.

The second bedroom in his flat was a workshop, filled with furniture, windmills and puzzles he made from recycled wood and sold for charity.