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Scotland’s oldest man has recalled an era where he listened to the radio via the ‘cat’s whisker’ crystal detector device and was fined for driving at a less than remarkable 23 mph.

Alf Smith, of the Carse of Gowrie, who will reach the amazing age of 107 on March 29, told The Courier how he still enjoys 500-piece jigsaws, playing scrabble and watching sport on television.

Born in 1908 in Invergowrie and educated at Invergowrie Primary School and Harris Academy, Dundee, Mr Smith went on to drive cattle lorries for one of his brothers, George, after returning from Canada, where all six siblings had emigrated to work on a farm in Saskatchewan.

“I was 18 when we sailed on the SS Letitia from Greenock to Canada it cost £3 to travel after arranging it through a travel agents in Dundee,” he said.

“I was out there for three years and worked as a lumberjack.”

Mr Smith said he was working with his five brothers, George, Bob, John, Alex and Jim, out in Canada but returned to help transport cattle for George in Invergowrie.

It was during this time that he was caught speeding.

“I was returning from Cupar on my way to the ferry which took you back to Dundee when I was caught speeding at 23mph you were meant to do 20,” he added.

“Then one day I drove the local bobby through Invergowrie and he asked me if I could go faster than 20mph.”

During the Second World War Mr Smith was in the Home Guard, and then he married Isobel when aged 29.

The couple later had a farm in Kinfauns, and have two children, Irene and Alan.

He ran the farm until he was in his 80s when his family lived in Linton Terrace, Perth.

Married for 67 years, his late wife died aged 97, when the couple had moved to live in the Carse of Gowrie.

Mr Smith recalled how he has seen so many changes throughout his life.

“When I drove the cattle trucks diesel cost six pennies per gallon and then I managed to come home for my lunch in Perth every day when we ran the farm in Kinfauns,” he said.

“You couldn’t do that now, but the traffic was so much different back then.

“I have seen so many changes and can remember listening to the radio through the cat’s whisker device.”

Irene Noble visits her father every week and believes the secret to his long life is down to healthy family genes.