Harry Fransman

Harry Fransman

Centenarian

Harry Fransman (born 25 November 1911) is a British centenarian who is believed to be the oldest living man in the United Kingdom, since the death of Bob Weighton on 28 May 2020 (Fauja Singh however claims to be older). He is also the oldest living male Dutch emigrant.

Biography

Fransman was born in the Netherlands to Dutch-Jewish parents Jacques and Judith Fransman on 25 November 1911. His parents immigrated to South Africa in 1920 when he was eight years old. He had three brothers (all deceased in 2018).

He obtained his degree in chartered accountancy at the University of the Witwatersrand, and married Helen Bernstein, an emigrant from England, at the Yeoville Shul in 1936. The couple had at least four children, three daughters and a son. Harry and Helen Fransman followed their three daughters and emigrated to the United Kingdom when he was 75 years old. After Helen died in 2011, Harry lived alone in his London apartment, but when two falls resulted in hip replacements, he had to move to a private residential home.

Fransman currently resides in the area of Elstree, Hertfordshire. Shortly after his 106th birthday, he became one of the oldest people to learn to play the violin and has received weekly lessons ever since being inspired by his violin instructor who visited him on the day of his 106th birthday, on 25 November 2017.

References

• 106 year-old-man from Elstree knew exactly how he wanted to celebrate his birthday Borehamwood & Elstree Times, 13 December 2017
• https://www.sajr.co.za/news-and-articles/2018/11/08/starting-to-learn-violin-at-106
• 107th birthday Facebook
• 108th birthday Facebook