John Tinniswood

John Alfred Tinniswood (born 26 August 1912) is a British supercentenarian who, at the age of 111 years, 365 days, has been the world's oldest verified living man since the death of 112-year-old Shi Ping of China on 29 June 2024.^[1]

John Alfred Tinniswood was born on 26 August 1912 in Liverpool, Lancashire, (now Merseyside) England.^[2][3] During World War II, he could not enlist as a soldier due to his poor eyesight, and as a result, he held an administrative role within the Royal Army Pay Corps as an accountant and auditor.^[4] He was also involved in logistical tasks, such as locating stranded soldiers and organising food supplies.^[4] He met his future wife, Blodwen (née Roberts), at a dance during the war;^[5] they married in 1942 and their only child, Susan, was born in 1944.^[3][6] Tinniswood went on to work as an accountant for Royal Mail and Shell-Mex and BP before retiring in 1972.^[3][4][2] Blodwen died from lung cancer in 1986, after 44 years of marriage.^[7][6]

In his later years, Tinniswood moved to a care home in Southport, Merseyside.^[5] His 110th birthday in August 2022 was accompanied by a live music performance at his residence, and he also received a clock paying tribute to Liverpool F.C., of which Tinniswood is an avid fan.^[8] As of April 2024, he has four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.^[4]

Tinniswood became the oldest living British man on 25 September 2020, upon the death of 108-year-old Harry Fransman.^[5][2][9] In interviews given on his 109th and 111th birthdays, he stated that the key to his longevity was "moderation".^[10][11] Upon being recognised by Guinness World Records for being the world's oldest man, he also stated that his longevity was "pure luck" and that "You either live long or you live short, and you can’t do much about it".^[12][13]

On 2 April 2024, upon the death of 114-year-old Juan Vicente Pérez of Venezuela,^[14] Tinniswood was declared the oldest living man in the world and received recognition from Guinness World Records two days later.^[4] However, Chinese man Shi Ping and Frenchman Georges Thomas,^[15] both born in November 1911, were older and were yet to be verified by researchers. Tinniswood became the oldest European man on 1 June 2024, upon the death of Thomas, and on 29 June, following Shi's death, actually became the world’s oldest man.

Owing to his administrative and logistical role during the Second World War, he was also said to be "the world's oldest surviving male World War II veteran" upon being recognised by Guinness.^[4][16]

• Oldest people
• List of the verified oldest people
• List of British supercentenarians