New world’s oldest man is 111 – and he’s a lifelong Liverpool fan from Southport
World's new oldest man living has revealed what makes him fit as a fiddle at 111.
A British man who is the new world’s oldest man has revealed what makes him fit as a fiddle at 111.
John Tinniswood said his secret to a long life is fish and chips every week and everything in moderation.
The great-grandfather was handed the title after the death of previous holder Juan Vicente Mora.
He told Guinness World Records: ‘If you drink too much or you eat too much or you walk too much; if you do too much of anything, you’re going to suffer eventually’.
Juan Vicente Perez Mora from Venezuela was 114 when he died on April 2.
Tinniswood, who lives in a care home in Southport, became the UK’s oldest man in September 2020 after the death of Harry Fransman at 108.
He will turn 112 on August 26 and was born in 1912 – the same year the Titanic sank during its maiden voyage to the US.
Each year since turning 100, Tinniswood received a birthday card from the late Queen Elizabeth, who was around 14 years younger than him.
Last year, King Charles and Queen Camilla sent him a birthday card.
Tinniswood told Guinness World Records what he thinks of the world around him: ‘The world, in its way, is always changing.
‘It’s a sort of ongoing experience. […] It’s getting a little better but not all that much yet. It’s going the right way.’
He was born in Liverpool, which is where he also met his future wife Blodwen at a dance.
The lovebirds married in 1942 and welcomed a daughter the following year.
They were together for 44 years before Blodwen passed away in 1986.
Tinniswood lived through both World Wars and he was 27 when the second one broke out.
Due to his eyesight issues, he joined the war effort by working in an administrative role for the Army Pay Corps.
It involved much more than just sitting in an office – he also helped to locate stranded soldiers and organise food supplies.
His nuggets of wisdom to the younger generation are: ‘Always do the best you can, whether you’re learning something or whether you’re teaching someone.
‘Give it all you’ve got. Otherwise it’s not worth bothering with.’
Tinniswood is a lifelong Liverpool FC fan and was born only 20 years after the club was established in 1892.
He has witnessed the highs of the club, including eight FA Cup wins and 17 out of 19 league title wins.
The Scouser is also the oldest living man in Britain, but not the country’s oldest person which is held by Ethel Caterham, aged 114.
The world’s oldest living person is 117-year-old Maria Morera from Spain.
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