Britain’s oldest man had his 110th birthday marked today with a visit from chancellor Gordon Brown
Henry Allingham, a WW1 veteran who once attributed his old age to “cigarettes, whisky and wild, wild women”, smiled broadly as the chancellor presented him with a letter of good wishes from the Queen, a bottle of House of Commons whisky and a copy of the budget statement from 1896, the year he was born (although sadly Gordon didn’t bring any fags.)
According to the Guardian Henry Allingham is the last surviving founder member of the RAF, and the sole known survivor of the battle of Jutland in 1916.
He has five grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, but said he had never thought about reaching such an old age.
“I have just lived from day to day,” he said. “I just have a good day and never think about what tomorrow will bring.”
He’s seen a few changes hasn’t he? Even if he doesn’t have a clue what the inside of a health store looks like.
I suppose at the age of 110 we will still be making lists of our favourite albums – though I personally can’t see a better album than London Calling emerging in the next 67 years…