RIP Joan Moll, world's oldest man, aged 114

It has not often been the habit of this newspaper to report the deaths of retired Spanish shoemakers, but for Joan Riudavets Moll, who died yesterday, we are prepared to make an exception. He was, at 114 years and three months, the world's oldest man.

Mr Moll had held the title for a mere six months, which may not sound long, but it is a period for which we would all settle. He wore the title with some style, carrying his faculties, slowed but relatively unimpaired, through a well-publicised birthday party in December and into his 115th year.

Sadly, for those of us whose unChristian habits mean we are unlikely to match Mr Moll's record, he always insisted to his many interviewers that his longevity was based on moderation in all things, including the occasional smoke. He gave up regular smoking 82 years ago, and also put much store by the curative powers of sleep, snoozing away for up to 14 hours a day. It was in his own bed, at home on the island of Menorca, that he finally passed on.

He was born in 1889, the same year as Hitler, Charlie Chaplin and the Eiffel Tower. His mother died a mere 15 days afterwards, and it was, of course, a life-long regret that he never knew her. He grew up as one of the few in his village to learn to read and write, joined the family shoemaking business, cycled (which he did until 110), married (his wife died aged 90 in 1979) and gained much pleasure from playing the guitar.

He retired in 1954, and lived a quiet life until he became so old that he achieved a form of celebrity. In his latter years he loved visits from local schoolchildren on his birthdays, tolerated those from journalists, and submitted to the occasional gerontologist who came his way bearing syringes and personal questions.