Britain's oldest dad dead after fathering baby at 78 with 25-year-old lover

The oldest father in Britain has died after fathering a baby at 78 with his 25-year-old lover.

In 2010, Raymond Calvert became a dad for the seventh time with the birth of his son Jamie Rai to his parter Charlotte, who was 54 years younger than him. At the time, the pensioner looked joyful as he called the little one a "gift from God, my very own little miracle".

Raymond, a former market trader, whose 38-year-old lover took his surname but didn't marry him, passed away at the age of 91. Raymond is survived by Charlotte and his boy Jamie Rai, who is now 12 years old. The pair still live in the family home, a cottage in Colne, Lancs.

Charlotte and Raymond Calvert

After the birth, Raymond told The Sun: "Yes, you get some plonkers who tell me, 'You'll never see him grow up'. But we've no regrets at all."

His loved ones were left devastated on December 1 last year when he died at the Royal Preston Hospital after a fall. His funeral took place just a few days before Christmas. He was buried at the Skipton Crematorium.

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Raymond and Charlotte first met after a three-year-relationship with her mum. But it wasn't until she became friends with her daughter Denise, aged 49 at the time, that they became an item.

Charlotte was just 16 years old when she first met Raymond, but they kissed a few years later at a pub. Raymond said it just "felt right".

Raymond said: "I am the most fortunate man in the world. It makes me feel 10ft tall. The baby was planned and I did not use Viagra or anything like that. I didn't actually think at my age that it would be possible to have a child, but he's a beautiful little fella. I feel blessed. I look at that baby and I think, 'He's so bloody healthy and good-looking, how did I make that'?"

Raymond noted that he's always gone out with women who are 20 to 25 years younger than him.

Charlotte left school with three A-levels and was on a childcare course before falling pregnant.

Recalling the moment she realised she wanted the baby, she said: “I realised it would be nice to have a baby with Raymond. He has such a lot of nice qualities.”