UK's 'oldest' man dies, aged 111 A former Polish army colonel, thought to have been Britain's oldest man, dies in a Cumbrian nursing home aged 111. A Polish army veteran - thought to have been Britain's oldest man - has died at a nursing home in Cumbria.
Jerzy Pajaczkowski-Dydynski - known as George - who was 111, lived in Sedbergh until ill-health forced a move to a nursing home in Grange over Sands. The former colonel was born in what is now the Ukraine, but was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, in 1894.
He escaped the German invasion of Poland in 1940 and worked as a gardener in Scotland before moving to Cumbria.
His son-in-law Richard Thomas from Birks Fold, said he and other members of the family had seen the highly decorated veteran at the Boarbank Hall nursing home before he died on 6 December.
Mr Thomas said: "We saw him on the day he died. He had a very colourful and eventful life."
Mr Dydynski studied law at the University of Vienna, but when World War I broke out joined the Polish Army and saw service in the war between Russia and Poland in the 1920's.
He was still with the army when Germany invaded Poland in 1939, but eventually managed to escape to Britain.
He spent months in hospital after falling ill on New Year's Eve 2003 and breaking his hip.
The colonel was born in Lwow on 19 July, 1894, and moved to Sedbergh from Edinburgh in 1993 with his now late second wife Dorothy.
The family said his long life was down to his positive outlook and, until recently, a daily half glass of Guinness.
He leaves 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
The colonel was called up to the Austrian Infantry in 1915 and became a sergeant before going to Montenegro and Albania where he fought against the Italians.
He married in 1924 but his first wife later died so he married again in 1946.
Family from Poland, Britain, the US, Australia and France are due to attend a funeral service at Sedbergh Parish Church on 12 December.
Colonel's life in his own words 03:47:38 03:50:10
Routemaster makes final journey Down memory bus lane...
Bus enthusiasts have boarded the last Routemaster vehicle to serve on a normal London route.
Forty passengers joined dignitaries on the 159 route in Oxford St on the 1208 service which was 26 minutes late.
The double-decker Routemasters, with their distinctive hop-on hop-off rear platforms, have been serving the city for more than 50 years.
The vehicles have been phased out and replaced with more modern designs, considered safer and more accessible.
Crowds gathered as the last Routemaster in operation pulled into Brixton bus garage in south London at around 1440 GMT, much to the chagrin of its fans across the world.
The bus, however, will not die out completely with services operating on two heritage routes.
Route 15 will run from Trafalgar Square to Tower Hill, via Fleet Street, while the number nine will start at Royal Albert Hall, end in Aldwych, and take in Knightsbridge and Piccadilly.
Transport history A further 350 have been sold off to the public to be reborn into a wealth of guises - from bars to accommodation for the homeless.
Fred Martin, 59, who travelled from Norwich for the send-off, said: "I grew up with the Routemaster when I was living in Enfield in north London. We are losing so much of our tradition."
However, driver Winston Briscoe, 62, who manned the last 159 bus service with his conductor Lloyd Licorish, 61, will not be lamenting the bus's end.
"I prefer driving the more modern buses," said Mr Briscoe. "You can have better inter-action with passengers and I don't have to worry about people falling off the back platform when they are jumping on and off."
For those after their own piece of transport history, there are still 35 left priced between £12,000 and £35,000.
Transport watchdog, London Travelwatch, said the continued use of the Routemaster, which is inaccessible to wheelchairs or baby buggies, was not viable.
I grew up with the Routemaster when I was living in Enfield in north London - we are losing so much of our tradition Fred Martin, 59, from Norwich
From BBC Last Updated: Saturday, 10 December 2005, 18:37 GMT
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03:47:38 03:50:10
Down memory bus lane...
I grew up with the Routemaster when I was living in Enfield in north London - we are losing so much of our tradition
A former Routemaster driver on his love for the buses
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