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John Tinniswood

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John Tinniswood
Tinniswood with his Guinness World Records certificate in April 2024
Born
John Alfred Tinniswood

(1912-08-26)26 August 1912
(age 112 years, 82 days)
Liverpool, Lancashire, England
OccupationAccountant (retired)
Known forWorld's oldest living man (since 29 June 2024)
Spouse
Blodwen Roberts
​
​
(m. 1942; died 1986)​
Children1

John Alfred Tinniswood (born 26 August 1912) is a British supercentenarian who, at the age of 112 years, 82 days, has been the world's oldest verified living man since the death of 112-year-old Shi Ping of China on 29 June 2024.[1]

Personal life

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John Alfred Tinniswood was born on 26 August 1912 in Liverpool, Lancashire, (now Merseyside) England.[2][3] During World War II, he could not enlist as a soldier due to his poor eyesight, and as a result, he held an administrative role within the Royal Army Pay Corps as an accountant and auditor.[4] He was also involved in logistical tasks, such as locating stranded soldiers and organising food supplies.[4] He met his future wife, Blodwen (née Roberts), at a dance during the war;[5] they married in 1942 and their only child, Susan, was born in 1944.[3][6] Tinniswood went on to work as an accountant for Royal Mail and Shell-Mex and BP before retiring in 1972.[3][4][2] Blodwen died from lung cancer in 1986, after 44 years of marriage.[7][6]

Later life

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In his later years, Tinniswood moved to a care home in Southport, Merseyside.[5] His 110th birthday in August 2022 was accompanied by a live music performance at his residence, and he also received a clock paying tribute to Liverpool F.C., of which Tinniswood is an avid fan.[8] As of April 2024, he has four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.[4]

Health and longevity

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Tinniswood became the oldest living British man on 25 September 2020, upon the death of 108-year-old Harry Fransman.[5][2][9] In interviews given on his 109th and 111th birthdays, he stated that the key to his longevity was "moderation".[10][11] Upon being recognised by Guinness World Records for being the world's oldest man, he also stated that his longevity was "pure luck" and that "You either live long or you live short, and you can’t do much about it".[12][13]

On 2 April 2024, upon the death of 114-year-old Juan Vicente Pérez of Venezuela,[14] Tinniswood was declared the oldest living man in the world and received recognition from Guinness World Records two days later.[4] However, Chinese man Shi Ping and Frenchman Georges Thomas,[15] both born in November 1911, were older and were yet to be verified by researchers. Tinniswood became the oldest European man on 1 June 2024, upon the death of Thomas, and on 29 June, following Shi's death, actually became the world’s oldest man.

Owing to his administrative and logistical role during the Second World War, he was also said to be "the world's oldest surviving male World War II veteran" upon being recognised by Guinness.[4][16]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "World's oldest living man titleholders". Gerontology Research Group and Guinness World Records.
  2. ^ a b c Barton, Alex (5 April 2024). "World's oldest man, 111, says weekly fish and chips are key to his long life". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Great-grandad, 111, is now the world's oldest man". BBC News. 5 April 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Atwal, Sanj (5 April 2024). ""It's pure luck": Inside the life of world's oldest man as he takes title aged 111". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Salaysay, Lennard Ashley (4 April 2024). "John Tinniswood Becomes the World's Oldest Living Man at 111 Years Old". LongeviQuest. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  6. ^ a b Petter, Olivia (21 August 2021). "UK's oldest man puts long life down to fish and chips every Friday". Independent. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  7. ^ Shute, Joe (15 January 2022). "The secret to living past 110, according to Britain's supercentenarians". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  8. ^ "UK's oldest man celebrates 110th birthday and shares secret to long life". The Independent. 28 August 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  9. ^ "Guinness World Records: New oldest living man in the world is John Tinniswood of the United Kingdom, aged 111 – Gerontology Research Group". Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  10. ^ "UK's oldest man celebrates 109th birthday - and says he is used to Her Majesty's annual well wishes". Sky News. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  11. ^ Fletcher, Andrew (23 August 2023). "'Everything in moderation' says UK's oldest man as he celebrates 111th birthday". ITVX. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  12. ^ Suleiman, Farouq; James, William; Lawson, Hugh (5 April 2024). "Longevity is 'just luck' says 111-year-old Briton, world's new oldest man". Reuters. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  13. ^ "The world's oldest man says the secret to his longevity is luck, plus regular fish and chips". AP News. 6 April 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  14. ^ Tabachnick, Cara (3 April 2024). "Oldest man in the world dies in Venezuela weeks before 115th birthday - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  15. ^ "Georges Thomas". LongeviQuest. 3 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  16. ^ "British man claims the crown of the world's oldest man at age 111 - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. 6 April 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
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