Widower, 88, who’s posed for more than 2,000 selfies becomes the ‘most famous person in Benidorm’
>
An 88-year-old widower, who has posed for more than 2,000 selfies, becomes the “most famous person in Benidorm” and says that “he cannot walk down the street without being stopped”
An 88-year-old widower has become the “most famous person in Benidorm” after his friend posted a message on Facebook asking tourists to look after him.
Retired shoe salesman Derek Flynn, from Rhyl, Wales, decided to holiday alone at the Spanish resort to relive memories of his wife, Maevis, who passed away two years ago.
Concerned for his friend, Nigel Hobdey, 61, took to a Benidorm Facebook group to ask anyone who saw his friend to ‘say hi’ and look after him during his 21-day break, according to Sun.
Now father of five, Derek, who doesn’t own a smartphone, has become a rare sensation on social media, with fans eagerly sharing beaming selfies with the widower online to reassure their loved ones that he’s good.
Derek has apparently posed for at least 2,000 selfies, adding: “I can’t walk down the street without someone stopping me.” He has flown. I’ve gone from nothing to huge.
An 88-year-old widower (in the center of the photo) has become the “most famous person in Benidorm” after his friend posted a message on Facebook asking tourists to take care of him.
Tourist Brenda Atherton, 69, told the publication: “We’ve been dying to meet you. He is the most famous person in Benidorm.
Derek, who enjoys singing Dean Martin songs in the resort’s bars and resembles American actor Robert De Niro, according to his fans, paid £1,200 for his break.
He said: ‘The ladies start yelling my name and asking me if I want a drink… I would never say no to a selfie.’ I’m having the time of my life.’
Nigel admitted that after his Facebook post, he received thousands of comments, before hundreds of images followed.
Mary, who is celebrating her 18th birthday, told the publication that the ‘legend’ Dereck is also ‘all over Instagram’.
Retired shoe salesman Derek Flynn, from Rhyl, Wales, decided to holiday alone at the Spanish resort to relive memories of his wife, Maevis, who passed away two years ago.
Concerned for his friend, Nigel Hobdey, 61, took to a Benidorm Facebook group to ask anyone who saw his friend to say hello and look after him during his 21-day break.
Derek is due to fly back to the UK on Monday, according to Mirrorafter Nigel helped the pensioner book the holiday and drove him to Manchester airport on February 5.
Nigel said Derek, who is occasionally forgetful, is sane, adding: “Some people say you shouldn’t have done it, he’s vulnerable, blah blah blah.”
“With Derek, there are people looking for him all the time, walking him back to the hotel, he has eyes and ears everywhere. And these hotels are like nursing homes, they take care of you.
“There are people out there wishing they were Derek,” Nigel concluded.