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War Veteran Becomes Britain's Oldest Man

S

stiz

Charter Member 2011
First World War veteran, Henry Allingham, has reached another milestone in his remarkable life by becoming the oldest ever British man.

Mr Allingham has turned 112 years and 296 days, surpassing Welshman John Evans who died in 1990 aged 112 years and 295 days.

It marks another record for Mr Allingham, who is one of only two surviving First World War veterans in the UK and is the oldest Royal Navy veteran.
He was spending the day quietly with a few visitors at St Dunstan's care home for blind ex-service personnel in Ovingdean, East Sussex.

Mr Allingham, who has dedicated much of his time in recent years to giving talks to schoolchildren about his experiences, will reach 113 years on June 6.

Dennis Goodwin, his close friend and founder of the First World War Veterans' Association, said: "He has achieved another milestone in his long life and is raising the bar of longevity.

"To be honest the last two years have been littered with milestones but this one is nice for him.

"The next one will come when he becomes a 'teenager' again when he reaches 113 in June."

Mr Allingham is to be made an honorary member of the Royal Naval Association during a low-key presentation at St Dunstan's.

Earlier this month he received an upgraded Legion d'Honneur in London, six years after receiving his first one.

He has held the rank of chevalier, or knight, in the Legion d'Honneur since 2003 but was promoted to the rank of officer by French ambassador Maurice Gourdault-Montagne.

The Clapton-born man, who has lived through the birth of his first great-great-great-grandchild, joined the Royal Navy Air Service in September 1915 before transferring to the RAF in April 1918.

As well as being the last founder member of the RAF, he is also the sole survivor of the Battle of Jutland.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20090329/tuk-war-veteran-becomes-britain-s-oldest-45dbed5.html
 
Aye! But then there be the tale of Ol' Parr.

The life and times of Thomas Parr

Old_Parr.jpg

Thomas Parr was born in 1483, a date that’s noted in British history because he went on to live through the reigns of 10 kings, until he eventually died at the ripe old age of 152.

The secret of his long life is not known; Thomas had a quiet childhood in the country, and no doubt spent his days helping his father on the farm and exploring the nearby hills of Breidden and Long Mountain.

Like many other boys at the age of 17, he went to work. He found employment at Rowton Castle, where he faithfully serviced the needs of the household for a number of years. He returned home when his father died, and began tilling and cultivating his newly inherited land.
In the days before mechanisation, making a living from a small farm involved a simple existence, long hours and hard physical work – but he seemed to be content, and the next fifty years passed peacefully.

So peacefully, in fact, that it wasn’t until he was 80 years old that he decided to get married and start a family.

He married Jane Taylor, and had two fine and strong children called John and Joan.

More years passed. Jane died. His children grew up. And at the age of 122, romance was once again in the air for Thomas, and he promptly got married (there is no record of any children).

This longevity had not gone unnoticed, however it wasn’t until Thomas Parr was 152 that he was presented to court.

His reputation spread, he was besieged by crowds of curiosity seekers, he was painted by Rubens and Van Dyke, and he was presented to his tenth and final monarch – King Charles. Unfortunately, all this excitement proved to be too much, and ‘Old Parr’ – as he was then known – promptly died.

Such was his fame, that he was buried in the hallowed ground of Westminster Abbey, alongside such greats as William Shakespeare, Chaucer and Spencer, where his memorial can be seen to this day.

‘Thomas Parr of the county of Sallop. Born AD 1483, lived in the reigns of ten monarchs: King Edward IV, King Edward V, King Richard III, King Henry VII, King Henry VIII, King Edward VI, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, King James and King Charles, aged 152 years, was buried here November 1653’

This is the inscription of John Parr’s tomb at Poets' Corner in the South Transept of Westminster Abbey, London.
 
Great for Mr. Allingham. :applause:

As for Thomas Parr, he was a UFO drop off. That's why he lived so ling. ;) :costumes: Really tho, I'd never heard of Thomas Parr.
 
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