“I just take it in my stride like anything else,” John Tinniswood told Guinness World Records while reflecting on his latest birthday
John Alfred Tinniswood has just notched another special milestone in his remarkable long life.
Recognized by the Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest man this past April, the British supercentenarian celebrated his 112th birthday on Monday, Aug. 26 — but he told the record-keeping organization that the occasion didn’t really affect him.
“In all honesty, no different, I don’t feel that age,” he said, per Guinness World Records. “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.”
Tinniswood, who marked his birthday at a care home with friends and family, continued: “I can’t think of any special secrets I have. I was quite active as a youngster; I did a lot of walking. But to me, I’m no different [to anyone]. No different at all.”
A resident of Southport, Merseyside, Tinniswood earned the distinction as the world’s oldest man earlier this year following the death of the previous record holder, Juan Vicente Pérez.
Tinniswood was born on Aug. 26, 1912. To put that in historical perspective, the Titanicsank that same year.
Other major events that year? Arizona’s admission to the Union as the 48th U.S. state, and Woodrow Wilson winning the U.S. presidential election over incumbent President William Howard Taft and former President Theodore Roosevelt.
Not only is he the world’s oldest man, but Tinniswood also holds the distinction of being the oldest surviving male World War II veteran, per Guinness World Records. During his time in the Royal Army Pay Corps, he was responsible for overseeing finances and locating stranded troop members.
According to the organization, he is the fourth-oldest British man in recorded history, behind the title holder Henry Allingham (1896-2009). Meanwhile, the world’s oldest woman, and oldest person overall, is Tomiko Itooka of Japan, currently 116 years young.
He was married for 44 years to his wife Blodwen, who died in 1986, per the record-keeping organization. In addition to their daughter Susan, Tinniswood has four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
On what he believes the world will be like in the next 112 years, Tinniswood told Guinness World Records: “Well, I want to say more honesty between the various countries. They all put, including our own, all put on a bit of show now and again.”
