Bob Weighton celebrated his birthday yesterday with a slice of genoa cake. Right, Bob, on the left, and his brothers­



As the world’s oldest man, Bob Weighton has experienced many different birthdays but has never before had to cancel his party because of a pandemic.

Mr Weighton, 112, had to celebrate in self-isolation yesterday, speaking to his large family by phone.

The former teacher and engineer, who was ten when Spanish flu killed millions in 1918, said that despite living through two world wars, he had never found himself in this position.

“It is bizarre,” he said. “I’m a bit frustrated but then again I’ve been in situations where you just had to accept what was happening. In the First World War I was just a child and I just had to accept that there were air raids that all the adults were scared