UK’s oldest man says secret to a long life is having a chippy tea every Friday

The UK’s oldest man has credited one thing to his long life: his weekly fish Friday chippy tea. 

109-year-old John Tinniswood was born in Liverpool in 1912, the same year the Titanic set off on its only voyage. He has lived through two world wars, and was already fifty years old when The Beatles released their first hit.

John worked in an administrative role with the Royal Mail during the Second World War, during which time he met his late wife, Blodwen, at a dance in Liverpool. They went on to have one daughter, Susan, before Blodwen’s death in 1986.

So, how has he managed to live to the year 2021 to tell his tale?

ITV News

Well, according to John, who is now a great grandad, his long and fruitful life can be put down to having a chippy tea every Friday and doing ‘everything in moderation.’

Speaking to ITV News on his 109th birthday yesterday, August 26th, John said: “You should never exceed what you normally do, otherwise you’ll injure yourselves either bodily or mentally. So stay within the limits of what you can do!”

John has now received nine telegrams from the Queen, though he hasn’t let the fame and attention go to his head, with him joking, ‘I could get a hundred quid for this’.

Though this isn’t the first time John has offered advice for living a long life: When he marked his 107th birthday back in 2019, he spoke again of his love for a good chippy tea on a Friday.

ITV News

He told the Mirror: “Fish and chips has got to be my favourite dish, it’s always been such a treat, and I think looking forward to my next visit to the chippy has kept me young.

“I get to have my favourite once a week here so I always look forward to a Friday, and occasionally we get an extra special treat when we order it from The Swan – a Southport chippy which is famous all over the world for its fish and chips.

“I remember going to The Swan as a younger man on a cold winter’s night and the atmosphere was always heavy with the smell of fish… I never minded the smell, but I can’t stand mushy peas.”

Happy birthday, John! Let’s hope he gets the chippy teas of all chippy teas tonight…