Let’s salute Raymon Benedyk, from Stanmore, who at 90 became the oldest dater to appear on the Channel 4 show First Dates this week.

Judging from the reaction on social media, the former Liberal Jewish Synagogue administrator charmed his audience.

“This television dating experience was completely new to me and it was really exciting to be given the opportunity,” he reflected. “Everyone at the programme looked after me wonderfully. I only wish my date with Cecilia had worked out, but it wasn’t to be.”

His cousin, Rosalind Zeffertt, said “First Dates was not his first blind date. His only other one was when his mother introduced him to Elsa, who became his wife, and they were happily married for nearly 50 years until she died in 2001. 

“He is a very sociable and romantic sort of a person and still wants to share his life with someone.”