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He hikes, he paints, he does yoga - and he's 100

November 6, 2014 11:34
Ulrich Weigert in his care home room

ByJonathan Kalmus, Jonathan Kalmus

2 min read

When Ulrich Weigert turned 100, there were five birthday parties and cards from the Queen and a government minister.

But on the downside, he managed only a 1.6 kilometre country walk, rather than the two kilometres he normally covers. At least he did not miss his regular art class on his birthday morning, or his yoga group later in the week. And dipping into a stack of broadsheet newspapers and journals helps to keep his mind active.

The German-born analytical chemist likes to keep busy. Hailing from an illustrious line of Jewish scientists and doctors, he worked in Sheffield's steel industry after escaping Nazi Germany. Until the age of 94, he gave lectures to a lobby group campaigning for cleaner drinking water.

Leaping out of his chair at the Sheffield care home where he now lives, Mr Weigert points proudly to the framed picture of a fox he took aged 97 while indulging in a spot of wildlife photography. Other photos on the wall were shot while cross-country skiing in his native Bavarian Alps at the age of 80.