World’s oldest man dies aged 112 in UK ‘surrounded by music & love’ just months after breaking record
THE world’s oldest man has died at the age of 112 “surrounded by music and love” just months after breaking the Guinness World record.
John Tinniswood passed away on Monday in Southport after being named as the oldest living man in the world earlier this year.
He was born in Liverpool on August 26, 1912, and became the world’s oldest living man in April when Juan Vicente Pérez Mora died at the age of 114.
John lived at a Southport care home and his family said his final day was “surrounded by music and love”.
In a statement, his family said: “John had many fine qualities. He was intelligent, decisive, brave, calm in any crisis, talented at maths and a great conversationalist.
“John moved to the Hollies rest home just before his 100th birthday and his kindness and enthusiasm for life were an inspiration to the care home staff and his fellow residents.”
John, survived by his daughter Susan, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, lived to be the fourth-oldest British man in recorded history.
The World War 2 veteran, who was born in the year the Titanic sank, previously attributed his astounding longevity to “luck”.
Beyond eating a portion of battered fish and chips every Friday, John said he did not follow any particular diet.
When asked about how he felt turning 112 this August, he told Guinness World Records: “In all honesty, no different. I don’t feel that age, I don’t get excited over it. That’s probably why I’ve reached it.
“I just take it in my stride like anything else, why I’ve lived that long I have no idea at all.
“I can’t think of any special secrets I have. I was quite active as a youngster, I did a lot of walking.
“You either live long or you live short, and you can’t do much about it.”
“I eat what they give me and so does everybody else. I don’t have a special diet,” he added.
John lived through both world wars and was the world’s oldest surviving male Second World War veteran.
He worked in an administrative role for the Army Pay Corps.
In addition to accounts and auditing, his work involved logistical tasks such as locating stranded soldiers and organising food supplies.
He went on to work as an accountant for Shell and BP before retiring in 1972.
A lifelong Liverpool FC fan, John was born just 20 years after the club was founded in 1892, and lived through all eight of his club’s FA Cup wins and 17 of their 19 league title wins.
John met his wife, Blodwen, at a dance in Liverpool, and the couple enjoyed 44 years together before Blodwen died in 1986.
Their daughter Susan was born in 1943.
Since turning 100 in 2012, he received a birthday card each year from the late Queen Elizabeth, who was his junior by almost 14 years.
His family said he had an “active retirement”, volunteering as a church elder in Blundellsands United Reform Church where he also gave sermons.
The oldest man ever was Jiroemon Kimura from Japan, who lived to the age of 116 years 54 days and died in 2013.
The world’s oldest living woman, and oldest living person, is Japan’s 116-year-old Tomiko Itooka.
World's oldest ever people
THE world's oldest ever people are all women and are from different places across the globe.
- Jeanne Calment France 122 years 164 days died 1997
- Kane Tanaka 119 107 days Japan died 2022
- Sarah Knauss USA 119 97 days died 1999
- Lucile Randon France 118 340 days died January 2023
- Nabi Tajima Japan 117 280 days died 2018
- Marie-Louise Meilleur Canada 117 230 days died 1998
- Violet Brown Jamaica 117 189 days died 2017
- Emma Morano Italy 117 137 days died 1899
- Chiyo Miyako Japan 117 81 days died July 2018
- Delphia Welford USA 117 66 days died 1992