John Alfred Tinniswood, born the same year the Titanic sank, on Monday celebrated his 112th birthday.
The world’s oldest living man, who was born on August 26, 1912, was born two years before the outbreak of World War I.
Tinniswood is marking the occasion with friends and family at his care home in the western English seaside town of Southport, according to the Guinness WorldRecords.
When asked the secret to his longevity, John Tinniswood – who has lived through both world wars – put it all down to “just luck”.
“I can’t think of any special secrets I have,” he said.
“I was quite active as a youngster, I did a lot of walking. Whether that had something to do with it, I don’t know. But to me, I’m no different [to anyone]. No different at all.
“I just take it in my stride like anything else, why I’ve lived that long I have no idea at all.”
Mr. Tinniswood added that apart from a portion of battered fish and chips every Friday, he does not follow any particular diet.
At 112, Mr Tinniswood also holds the title as the world’s oldest surviving male WWII veteran.
He worked in an administrative role for the Royal Army Pay Corps where his work involved logistical tasks such as locating stranded soldiers and organizing food supplies as well as accounting and auditing.
After leaving the army he worked as an accountant for Shell and BP, before retiring in 1972.
He met his wife Blodwen at a dance in Liverpool and enjoyed 44 years of marriage before her death in 1986.
Their daughter Susan was born in 1943. Mr Tinniswood also has four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
He is a lifelong Liverpool FC fan and has lived through all eight of his club’s FA Cup wins.
The world’s oldest known person, Spain’s Maria Branyas Morera, who was born in the US in 1907 and lived through two pandemics and two world wars, died this month at the age of 117, her family said.
Following her death, Tomiko Itooka, a Japanese woman, became the world’s oldest living person at age 116.
