John Alfred Tinniswood was born in 1912, the same year the Titanic sank and when New Mexico and Arizona became US states.
Now, he is the world’s oldest living man and is celebrating his 112th birthday.
Tinniswood is having a birthday celebration with friends and family at his care home in Southport, a seaside town in western England, according to Guinness World Records (GWR).
Before his birthday, Tinniswood told GWR that turning 112 doesn’t feel any different. He said, “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,” according to a news release on Sunday.
John Alfred Tinniswood, who has one child, four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren, was named the oldest man alive by Guinness World Records (GWR) in April.
He’s also the oldest surviving male World War II veteran in the world, according to GWR.
Tinniswood says his key advice for staying healthy is to do everything in moderation. He enjoys listening to the radio and still does many daily tasks on his own, like getting out of bed and handling his finances.
“I don’t have any special secrets. I was quite active when I was young; I did a lot of walking. But I’m no different from anyone else,” he said.
When asked what he thinks the world will be like in another 112 years, Tinniswood said: “Oh good lord. Well, I hope for more honesty between countries. Right now, they all, including our own, sometimes put on a bit of a show.”
Tinniswood is four years younger than the oldest living woman, Tomiko Itooka from Japan, who is 116 years old. She became the oldest living person last week after 117-year-old Maria Branyas Morera, born in the U.S., passed away.
Tinniswood is also four years away from becoming the oldest man ever, a record held by Japan’s Jiroemon Kimura, who lived to be 116 years old from 1897 to 2013.
The oldest person ever was Jeanne Calment from France, who lived for 122 years, from 1875 to 1997.
