Brit great-grandad, 111, becomes the ‘oldest living man in the WORLD’ – and reveals the secret to his long life
A BRIT supercentenarian has become the oldest living man in the world – reaching an impressive 111.
Great-grandfather John Tinniswood, who lives in a care home in Southport, Merseyside, puts his long life down to fish and chips on a Friday and doing “everything in moderation”.
The World War 2 veteran was handed the new record following the death this week of Juan Vicente Perez, from Venezuela, at the age of 114, as well as 112-year-old Gisaburō Sonobe of Japan.
John was born in 1912 – the same year the Titanic made its ill-fated maiden voyage – and has lived through two world wars, as well as the pandemic.
He even met the late Queen Elizabeth on two occasions and was presented with a birthday card from King Charles and Queen Camilla on his last birthday.
Father-of-one John, who will turn 112 on August 2, said his most precious memory was his wedding to wife Blodwen in 1942.
The pair met at a dance during the war and were married for 44 years until she passed away in 1986.
Prior to his retirement in 1972, John worked as an accountant for Shell and BP.
When asked what his secret was, John, who lives at The Hollies care home in Southport, Merseyside, said: “Moderation in all things and keep on moving about.
“To sit down in a chair all day is no good.”
On his last birthday, his daughter, Susan Behrmann, said: “He’s incredible. He keeps going on and on.”
John became the oldest known living man in the UK following the death of 108-year-old Harry Fransman on 25 September 2020.
The previous world’s oldest man, Juan, passed away on Wednesday.
Paying tribute, Freddy Bernal, the governor of Tachira, Venezuela, where Mr Perez lived, posted on X, formerly Twitter: “Today with deep sadness and pain we say goodbye to you.”
He went on to describe him as “humble, hard-working, peaceful, enthusiastic about family and tradition”.
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.”
The world’s second oldest man, Gisaburo, passed away in late March.
Maria Morena, who lives in Spain, holds the title for the oldest living person on the globe at 117.