Britain can now boast of having the oldest living man in the world. John Tinniswood, at the age of 111 years and 222 days, was awarded the title during a ceremony at his care home yesterday.
The Guinness World Records, the global authority on record-breaking, made the announcement after the previous title-holder Juan Vicente Perez Mora passed away on Wednesday. Mr Mora, from Venezuela, died just weeks before his 115th birthday.
Mr Tinniswood was born in Liverpool on 26 August 1912 – the same year the Titanic sank in the Atlantic Ocean. He now resides in a care home in Southport, Merseyside, where the title was bestowed to him on Thursday.
During the ceremony, the supercentenarian was quizzed about the secrets to long life.
Mr Tinniswood admitted that the secret to his longevity is “just luck”.
He matter-of-factly stated: “You either live long or you live short, and you can’t do much about it.”
The record-breaker told reporters: “I eat what they give me and so does everybody else. I don’t have a special diet.”
However, the World War 2 veteran made a point of mentioning he enjoyed a regular fish and chips meal on a Friday and doing “everything in moderation”.
When asked for advice, he said: “To sit down in a chair all day is no good.”
Mr Tinniswood has managed to survive two world wars, as well as the COVID pandemic.
He met the late Queen Elizabeth on two occasions and was presented with a birthday card from King Charles and Queen Camilla on his birthday last year.
The father-of-one, who will turn 112 on August 2, said his most precious memory was his wedding to wife Blodwen in 1942.
The couple met at a dance during the war and were married for 44 years until Blodwen died in 1986. Their daughter, Susan, was born in 1943.
His family said he was taking his new title “with a pinch of salt” due to his modesty.
In a joint statement, they added: “We are incredibly proud of John, who is a wonderful and much loved father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend, and we are very lucky that John is with us today. Being alive at 111 is testimony to his resilience, love for life, good humour and amazing survival instinct.
“We would also like to thank John’s carers at the Hollies care home for taking such good care of him.”
Maria Morena, who lives in Spain, holds the title for the oldest living person on the globe at 117.
