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John Tinniswood
John Tinniswood
Tinniswood (aged 107) in October 2019
Birth: 26 August 1912
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK
Age: 112 years, 73 days
Country: United Kingdom UK
Validated

John Alfred Tinniswood (born 26 August 1912) is a British supercentenarian who is recognised by Guinness World Records as being the world’s oldest living man since the death of 112-year-old Shi Ping of China on 29 June 2024. He is currently the third-oldest living person in the United Kingdom, behind Ethel Caterham, and Mary Keir. His age is validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG).

Biography[]

Early Life[]

John Alfred Tinniswood was born in Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK on 26 August 1912. Due to problems with his eyesight, he was given an administrative role with Royal Army Pay Corps during the Second World War. In addition to accounting and auditing, his work involved logistical tasks such as locating stranded soldiers and organizing food supplies. During his time in the army, he met his wife, Blodwen, at a dance in Liverpool. The couple married in 1942, and their only child, Susan, was born in 1943. The couple were married for 44 years until Blodwen died in 1986. Prior to his retirement in 1972, Tinniswood worked as an accountant for Shell and BP. He has been a lifelong fan of Liverpool FC.

Later Life[]

On 26 August 2012, he celebrated his 100th birthday, becoming a centenarian. He has said that his secret to longevity is "eating battered fish and chips every Friday".

On 25 September 2020, following the death of 108-year-old Harry Fransman, Tinniswood became the oldest known living man in the UK.

On 26 August 2022, he celebrated his 110th birthday, becoming a supercentenarian.

His age was verified by Marisa Tinniswood, Oliver Trim and Waclaw Jan Kroczek, and validated by the Gerontology Research Group on 26 August 2023, his 111th birthday.

On 14 January 2024, following the death of 111-year-old Luis Torras Martinez of Spain, Tinniswood became the last surviving man born in 1912.

On 2 April 2024, following the death of 114-year-old Juan Vicente Perez Mora of Venezuela, Tinniswood became the third-oldest living man in the world, behind 112-year-old Shi Ping of China and 112-year-old Georges Thomas of France. However, at that time, Ping and Thomas were not verified by the Gerontology Research Group, and both were posthumously validated in August 2024.

On 1 June 2024, following the death of 112-year-old Georges Thomas of France, Tinniswood became the oldest living man in Europe, although Georges Thomas was unknown to the public before his death.

On 29 June 2024, following the death of 112-year-old Shi Ping of China, Tinniswood officially became the oldest validated living man in the world, although Guinness World Records recognized him almost three months earlier, on 4 April 2024, only two days after Perez Mora's death.

At the age of 112, Tinniswood remains lucid and is able to recall his earlier life. When asked about his secret to longevity, he said "no idea, really. Just luck, I think".

On 26 August 2024, he celebrated his 112th birthday, becoming the fourth-British man in history to reach this milestone, after Bob Weighton, John Evans, and Henry Allingham.

Tinniswood is currently the second-oldest man ever from England, after Henry Allingham, and the third-oldest man ever from the United Kingdom, after Allingham and John Evans.

John Tinniswood currently lives in a care home in Southport, Merseyside, England, UK at the age of 112 years, 73 days.

Gallery[]

References[]


World's Oldest Living Man Titleholders (V • TE)

Sylvester MelvinJoseph Saint-Amour • William Fullingim • John Mosley Turner • Friedrich Wedeking • Frederick Butterfield • Jean Teillet • Charlie Nelson • Charlie Phillips • Zachariah BlackistoneJames NashWalter WilcoxGregory PandazesJoe Thomas • Herman Smith-Johannsen • Alphaeus Philemon Cole • John Evans • Henri Perignon • James Wiggins • Frederick Frazier • Josep Armengol-Jover • Christian Mortensen • Walter Richardson • Denzo Ishizaki • Antonio Urrea-Hernandez • John Painter • Antonio Todde • Yukichi Chuganji • Joan Riudavets Moll • Fred Hale • Emiliano Mercado del Toro • Tomoji Tanabe • Henry Allingham • Walter Breuning • Horacio Celi MendozaJiroemon Kimura • Salustiano Sanchez • Arturo Licata • Alexander Imich • Sakari Momoi • Yasutaro Koide • Israel Kristal • Francisco Nunez Olivera • Masazo NonakaTomas Pinales FiguereoEmilio Flores MarquezSaturnino de la Fuente GarciaJuan Vicente Perez MoraShi PingJohn Tinniswood


Europe's Oldest Living Man Titleholders (VE)

Geert Adriaans Boomgaard • Unknown • Matthias DodenhoffFrederick StabbinsWilliam MugfurSven ErikssonJean-Pierre DupontWilliam WalkerBening Arnold • Hans Schaftner-BurginLars OlofssonMarc PicqJohan Svanstrom • Erik JanssonFrancesco CubaddaThomas PopeJohn FrancklowKarl Nilsson • Constant De LichteAntonio Marchi • August KarlssonKarl GlocknerAnders JonassonMathias Hansen SaetherJan KipWillem Kostering • Francesco Paba • John Mosley Turner • Antonije MladenovicFriedrich Wedeking • Frederick Butterfield • Jean Teillet • Pasquale CappelloGiuseppe Arena • Luigi SabaIngebrigt Johansen • Victor Guillot • Andrei Kuznetsoff • Herman Smith-Johannsen • John Evans • Henri PerignonDomenico Minervino • Josep Armengol-Jover • Pablo Roy • Emile Fourcade • Bernard Delhom • Valentino StellaGregorio Merino • Antonio Baldo • Antonio Urrea-Hernandez • Alejandro Rivera Santalla • Antonio Todde • Joan Riudavets MollHermann Dornemann • Jerzy Pajaczkowski-Dydynski • Maurice Floquet • Henry AllinghamHarry Patch • Stanley Lucas • Jan Goossenaerts • Francisco Fernandez • Arturo Licata • Rezso GallaiPhilippe Vocanson • Harold Bracher • Francisco Nunez Olivera • Gustav GernethBob Weighton • Dumitru Comanescu • Saturnino de la Fuente Garcia • Stanislaw Kowalski • Andre BoiteGeorges ThomasJohn Tinniswood


United Kingdom's Oldest Living Man Titleholders (VE)

George Stanforth • John Mosley Turner • John Leng • Frederick Butterfield • James Harrow • Ernest Oxley • Harry Durrant • Arthur Emanuel • James Sellers • Walter Sandford • George Simms • Henry Norman • John Orton • Alfred Grant • John Evans • Samuel Crabbe • Joseph Randle • Jesse Yewdall • William Proctor • David Davies • Vinson Gulliver • David Henderson • Harry Halford • William Lee • Frederick Moore • Harry Laverick • Jerzy Pajaczkowski-Dydynski • Henry Allingham • Harry Patch • Stanley Lucas • Edward Anderson • Reg Dean • Ralph Tarrant • Harold Bracher • Frank Simes • John Mansfield • Alf Smith • Bob Weighton • Harry Fransman • John Tinniswood

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