John Alfred Tinniswood, the oldest man in the world, celebrated his 112th birthday at the care home located in the regions of Merseyside. Tinniswood, who was born in 1912, considers that the only reason why he has managed to live this long is because of luck as well as a tradition of eating fish and chips every Friday, said the Guardian.
That year, the last surviving and oldest verified man in the world upon the death of 114-year-old Juan Vicente Pérez of Venezuela, Tinniswood became the oldest living man in the world. Tinniswood, who has been the oldest British boy since the year of two thousand and twenty, spoke about the disclosing events of his long life and shared his wisdom with children and young people.
Supporter of Liverpool FC all his life and Combatant
Born only two decades following the founding of the club, Tinniswood is a passionate supporter of Liverpool football club. He has been present in all major victories of Liverpool football club and has witnessed eight victories in the FA Cup.
The couple met at a dance in Liverpool, and even till her death in 1986, Tinniswood’s wife Blodwen was married to him for 44 years. Their only child, a daughter by the name of Susan was born in 1943 and now Tinniswood is a great old grandfather.
He worked for the Army Pay Corps in an administrative capacity during the Second World War – the last man alive in the history of the war. After the war, he worked as an accountant for the oil companies, but did not last until retirement in 1972.
At this age even, Tinniswood is very much self sufficient. He takes care of his own finances, listens to the news over the radio to keep himself informed, gets out of bed on his own and does not require any help to do so.
Thoughts on lifespan and changes in the way of life
In this context, Tinniswood argued that for most people, “longevity relates to ‘either you live long or you live short and not much can be done, which I do not feel that age, we do not get excited over it. That is probably why I have reached it. He continues, I just took it in my stride like anything else, why I have lived that long I have no idea at all.
I don’t know that I have any special secrets, more than perhaps vigorous activities in my youth… a lot of walking. I do not know if that had something to do with it. But to me, I’m no different. No different at all.”
He described moderation as one of the possible answers for his longevity, “I eat what they give me and every body does that…I have no special diet . If you drink too much or you eat too much or you walk too much too much of anything is not good.”
Centenarian generations summary of history and lessons for the younger generation
From 2012, on the administrative birthday of 100 years, Tinniswood, attests, for a whole decade, would get a birthday card from the late queen.
He has seen the reigns of 24 prime ministers in the UK.
Tinniswood has been asked how he saw the world changing, for example, to which he replied, “The world in one way or the other is always evolving. It’s an experience of sort … It’s getting a little better but not all that much yet. At least it’s heading the right way.”
Tinniswood suggested also to younger generations: ‘If you are learning or teaching someone, do your best. Put your maximum effort in all the activities that you do. If you don’t do this, it’s better not to do anything at all.’
