David Henderson, Britain's oldest man; born June 14 1889, died November 14, 1998

HE was proud to call himself Britain's oldest man - and was planning a big party to celebrate his 110th birthday in June. But David Henderson slipped quietly away at noon on Saturday, within sight of his beloved Conveth Mains at Laurencekirk, which he had farmed for 77 years.

He had been large as life until the previous week, when he was struck down by a chest infection. As his strength drained away he had his last conversation with George Thomson, still a loyal servant on the farm after 53 years, asking if the wheat was all sown. Then George said: ''Ye're lookin' gey tired.''

''Ay,'' said the boss. And then, holding out his hand, he offered his final ''Goodbye, George''.

David Henderson, the man who had waved on several occasions to Queen Victoria, had lived on this earth for 109 years and 153 days, with a certificate to prove it from the Guinness Book of Records, framed and proudly displayed on his wall at Burnside Nursing Home, Laurencekirk, where he had lived for the past few years.

That nursing home was built on his own farmland, so he could still look out to his 1000 acres, which latterly were managed on his behalf by his nephew, Douglas Cargill. Each week Mr Cargill would drive him round the farm to check on progress.

Just three weeks ago, I fulfilled a long-standing intention to visit David Henderson and came away with the impression of a remarkable man, as well as an invitation to that 110th birthday party.

He was raised on his father's farm at Alyth, not far from Glamis Castle, the home of the Queen Mother, and was already aged 11 when the future royal lady was born. The two of them shared a childhood dancing teacher.

He remembered waving to Queen Victoria on the passing train when the main transport of the day was still the shalt-and-gig.

By 1921 he had bought his own farm at Laurencekirk and, with tarmacadam changing the whole surface of roadways, he spent a small fortune on laying tracks throughout his land.

Having observed that centenarians are generally of smallish stature, I was astonished to find that David Henderson had been 6ft 3in tall in his heyday. And, on that recent visit, there were more surprises from a man who had lived so long.

In his youth, he was not a shining example of good health, suffering so much from rheumatism that he was sent to Harrogate for the waters. There he met an Australian doctor who gave him a recipe of Epsom and Glauber salts, mixed with gin and water, which totally cured him within two years!

From then on he tended to doctor himself. Noticing that cattle he bought from the Orkney island of Sanday were lethargic, he found it was due to a local lack of minerals. An adjusted diet soon perked them up - and he started feeding himself the same remedy.

Porridge and prunes were essential to his day and he reckoned his long life was helped by never going to bed with a full stomach. He also had the genetic advantage that his father lived to his 99th year and his sister reached 96.

Before I left him that day, David Henderson poured us both a substantial malt. His hands were strong, his mind was clear.

His wife, Elizabeth, died in 1973 and there was no family. After the funeral service at Laurencekirk on Thursday he will be buried beside her in the local kirkyard.