Death of a Truly Colorful Character

From ERIC SHACKLE, in Sydney, Australia. <eshackle*bigpond.com>

BBC News last month reported the death of Jean-Baptiste("Buster") Martin, a truly colorful character. I first
wrote about him two years ago. That story is posted at 
http://www.pencilstubs.com/magazine/MagPage.asp?NID=3290

"A London man who claimed to be the world's oldest marathon runner has died," said the BBC.

"Buster Martin said he was 101 when he ran the London Marathon in 2008.

"He was still working as a van cleaner at Pimlico Plumbers. His boss Charlie Mullins said:
'Buster sadly passed away last night at the age of 104.'

"Mr Martin was not awarded the Guinness World Record as the oldest person to complete a marathon after being unable to verify his age.

"He features in a film by American documentary-maker Mark Wexler being released in the US in May, called How to Live Forever.
"In a blog entry on London firm Pimlico Plumbers' website, managing director Charlie
Mullins wrote: 'I can't believe it, only yesterday afternoon was he in the canteen knocking back one of Buster's beers, and now today he is gone. Buster certainly enjoyed life and was living life to the full right up until the end.'

"Several months after his marathon run, Mr Martin claimed to have been issued a passport with a date of birth verifying his age, after there were suggestions that he was 'only' 94.

"Guinness World Records were still not able to verify the record because of the absence of a birth certificate.

"Pimlico Plumbers said that Mr Martin completed the 2008 marathon in just under ten hours, and he raised £20,000 for charity.

"A biography on the website for the film that features Mr Martin, described him as 'Britain's oldest working man' and said he enjoyed 'a beeror two and 20 cigarettes daily.'"