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Britain’s oldest man says key to long life is chippy tea every Friday as he turns 111
He received a birthday card from the king and queen to mark his special day
As Britain’s oldest man celebrated his 111th birthday this weekend, he shared the secret to his long life.
John Tinniswood from Merseyside was born in 1912, the same year Captain Scott and his team’s bodies were found in the Antarctic after their fateful Terra Nova Expedition to the South Pole, and as the tragic sinking of the Titanic while on its first voyage.
He turned an amazing 111 years old on Saturday August 26th as friends and family came to join him at The Hollies care home where he resides in Southport.
The centenarian was also presented with a special birthday card from King Charles and Queen Camilla, to congratulate him on the huge milestone.
John displayed a collection of telegrams from the late Queen Elizabeth, who he met in-person on a couple of occasions.
Speaking to ITV News, the great-grandfather said ‘I never expected to get all these’, while surrounded by birthday cards wishing him well on his special day.
He said his most precious memory was that of his wedding day to his late wife Blowden in 1942. The couple met at a dance in Liverpool and were married for 44 years. Blowden passed away in 1986.
Their daughter Susan said: “He’s incredible and it’s a stunning occasion today. Everyone at The Hollies has done so much work, put so much into this day – it’s great.
“My daughter was worried that he’d be tired today but he likes it, and he can go to bed early.”
John said his long life was down to enjoying a fish and chips for dinner on a Friday and doing ‘everything in moderation’.
He says his earliest memories were of his first day attending school at the age of five. John recalled the day he finished his school education on a Friday and began work on the following Monday morning.
He worked as an accountant for Shell and BP until his retirement in 1972.