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Thread: Henry Allingham, now the world's oldest man, on the secret of a long life

  1. #1

    Henry Allingham, now the world's oldest man, on the secret of a long life

    God bless ya, Mr Allingham.


    Having spent 113 years and 14 days on this earth, Henry Allingham is used to breaking records.

    He is one of three British men still alive who actively served in the First World War, is the last surviving founder of the Royal Air Force, has long held the record for being the oldest man in Europe and earlier this year he became Britain's most ancient man ever after overtaking John Evans, a Welsh former coal miner who died in 1990 aged 112 years and 295 days.

    But when Mr Allingham woke up yesterday morning at St Dunstan's care home for blind ex-service personnel, in Ovingdean, near Brighton, the supercentenarian was informed that he had suddenly achieved the highest age-related accolade for men.

    Tomoji Tanabe, a Japanese retired civil engineer, had died peacefully in his sleep overnight. He was 113 years' and 274 days' old and had more than 50 great-grandchildren. Having foregone alcohol and cigarettes all his life, Tanabe had became the world's oldest man in January 2007.

    That mantle has now passed to Mr Allingham – the first time a British person has ever held such a title.

    A St Dunstan's spokesman said that the oldest man on Earth greeted the news by simply returning to bed after breakfast for a celebratory nap.

    For someone who has seen three different centuries, six monarchs, two world wars (and 18 world cups), becoming the oldest living man is, perhaps, something of a non-event.

    Mr Allingham is quieter these days, but no codger at heart. In contrast to Mr Tanabe's asceticism, he attributes his longevity to "cigarettes, whisky and wild, wild women".

    The Air Mechanic First Class is best known publicly for his war record, because of the many public engagements he has attended – up to 70 some years – including regular meetings with the Queen, politicians and soldiers returning from theatres of war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

    Yet he dislikes talking about conflict, saying only: "War's stupid. Nobody wins."

    He added in an interview recently: "Like so many, I have tried to forget my time in the war. In the last few years I have met other veterans, and we never spoke one word of the war, not one."

    ....

    http://www.independent.co.uk/life-st...n-1710744.html



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  3. #2
    Ummm, Suz this fellow died in 2009...

  4. #3
    Quote Originally Posted by tod evans View Post
    Ummm, Suz this fellow died in 2009...


    Well, that's embarrassing. I'm just now hearing about him.





    RIP Mr. Allingham

    I only heard of you for a few minutes but I thought you were cute.

  5. #4
    The ol' codger lead an interesting life......RIP

  6. #5
    'wild women' eh?....guess i better buy my wife that leopard costume now..

  7. #6
    An old story? <rimshot>
    Don't let others get you down. Not naysayers, not pretenders, not appeasers, not opportunists; none of em.

    What others do pales beside what YOU do.

    Press on! - The r3VOLution continues...

    "Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'press on' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race."

    ~ C.Coolidge

  8. #7
    I've only just heard about him, too. Thanks for sharing, Suz. Weird how the two oldest men can have completely different philosophies on life.
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  9. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by PaulConventionWV View Post
    I've only just heard about him, too. Thanks for sharing, Suz. Weird how the two oldest men can have completely different philosophies on life.
    You're welcome.

    I found that interesting too.



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  11. #9
    Mr Allingham is quieter these days, but no codger at heart. In contrast to Mr Tanabe's asceticism, he attributes his longevity to "cigarettes, whisky and wild, wild women".
    And bacon, don't forget the bacon.

  12. #10
    Quote Originally Posted by Anti Federalist View Post
    And bacon, don't forget the bacon.
    Damn straight!

    When we think of a 105-year-old frail woman named Pearl, we don’t necessarily think of chowing down on bacon. But that’s exactly what the Texas woman credits for her longevity.

    Pearl Cantrell was recently asked by KRBC what the secret to her long life is and she revealed it’s the crispy, sizzling delight that has kept her around for this long.

    “I love bacon, I eat it everyday,” she said. “I don’t feel as old as I am.”

    The mother of seven still has a lot of life left in her. For her 105th birthday, Cantrell partied with 200 guests for three whole days. And yes, she still dances.

    Watch the video above to see how Cantrell’s claim might have some credibility to it, after all. Not that we would ever try to refute an excuse to eat more bacon.

    http://firsttoknow.com/105-year-old-...e=facebookpage

  13. #11
    Quote Originally Posted by Suzanimal View Post
    You're welcome.

    I found that interesting too.
    Genetic and historical luck of the draw (or God) is what most extreme longevity is to be credited to, as far as I'm concerned.

    Mr. Allingham could have just as easily taken a bullet at Somme.

  14. #12
    These 5 Women Represent The Last Living People Born In The 1800s



    The secret to longevity has been sought for centuries. What exercises, beverages, foods, and characteristics grant the key to a long life? These five women have a number of secrets worth sharing, after all they are the last living people born in the 1800’s.

    These incredible women have seen it all, two World Wars, the Cold War, the first flying airplane, television set, and the Internet. A conversation with any one of them proves delightful, interesting and highly informative.

    Women tend to live longer than men. It’s unknown exactly why but theories hint at a couple of different factors, such as estrogen helps protect the heart until after menopause. So while these women do have the upper hand when it comes to living a long life, they clearly have some other tricks up their sleeve.

    These 5 charming women live in different parts of the world, but they all seem to agree on the same tricks to a long life: sleep, activity, exercise, and eating good food.

    World’s Oldest Living Person, Misao Okawa

    116-years-old, Born On March 5, 1898




    The Japanese are known for living long lives, but Misao Okawa is the oldest living Japanese person ever. Okawa was married, but has been a widow for the last 83 years, as her husband died in 1931. Her secrets to living a long life: good genes, good sleep, exercise, and sushi. “Eat and sleep and you will live a long time.” Misao told Britain’s Daily Telegraph.


    Susannah Mushatt Jones, United States

    115-years-old, Born On July 6, 1899



    Susannah Mushatt Jones, known as Miss Susie, was born in Alabama to sharecroppers; she was the third oldest of 11 siblings. In 1923, she moved to New York City, where she still lives today.

    Susannah presented “Negro Music in France” at her high school graduation, and was awarded a seat at the prestigious Tuskegee Institute. Since her parents could not afford college, she moved to New York instead. Her family says she is a kind woman who has helped many of her family members afford college. Jone’s niece says, “She wants everyone to go to college.”


    America’s Oldest Person, Gertrude Weaver

    116-years-old, Born On July 4, 1898



    Yet another lady on this list born to sharecroppers, Gertrude was married in 1915 and had four children. Only one of her four children is still alive, he is now in his nineties. Weaver’s favorite activities include Bible study, manicures, and “wheelchair dancing.” Weaver told Time, “We chair dance because we can’t get up anymore.”

    Europe’s Oldest Living Person, Emma Morano, Italy

    115-years-old, Born On November 29, 1899



    Emma is the only woman on this list that still lives completely on her own without any assistance. She was the first born out of 8 siblings and remains the only one still alive today. She worked in a jute factory until 1954, at which time she switched occupations and worked in a boarding school kitchen until 75 when she retired.

    Morano says her eating habits have helped her live so long, she eats one raw egg and one cooked egg each day, just as the doctor recommended back when she was 20-years-old.

    Jeralean Talley, United States

    115-years-old, Born On May 23, 1899



    Jeralean Talley was born into a difficult life picking cotton and peanuts. In 1935, she moved to Inkster for better economic opportunities. Here she married Alfred Talley, and the two of them had one child. Alfred passed away in 1988 at the ripe old age of 95.

    Even without her other half, Jeralean still lives a fun life with her large family. She now lives with her daughter and takes annual fishing trips, and even hits up local casinos. Until she was 105 she remained an active bowler and always mowed her own lawn. That being said, perhaps it’s no surprise that she cites an active lifestyle as the key to longevity.

    http://www.earthporm.com/5-women-rep...le-born-1800s/

  15. #13
    Awww...that's so sweet.

    Australia's oldest person reveals he spends his time knitting jumpers for penguins






    Alfred "Alfie" Date, Australia's oldest person, has revealed he spends his time knitting tiny jumpers for penguins to protect them from oil spills.

    The 109-year-old, a prolific knitter who learnt the craft from his sister-in-law in the early 1930s, responded to a plea for small jumpers from the Penguin Foundation, a group which tries to protect a colony of the creatures at Phillip Island, about 80 miles south-east of Melbourne.

    "If you're using a light wool you're wasting your time," he told Channel Nine.

    Mr Date said staff at the nursing home last year heard he could knit and suggested he put his skills to use. He said he should be forgiven for occasional slip-ups.
    "I think I'd been in here about 12 hours, might have been 13," he said.

    "The two girls [nurses] come in to me and say 'We believe you can knit'. I like to make them without mistakes and I don't excuse myself for doing it.
    [But] I think there is an excuse for a person who's gone beyond the normal span of life."

    The Penguin Foundation said the knitwear helps to protect the penguins from oil spills by protecting them from toxic chemicals and preventing the grease from affecting their ability to hunt or maintain body temperature.

    In 2001, the jumpers helped protect about 96 per cent of 438 penguins that came into contact with an oil spill. But a spokeswoman said the foundation had enough jumpers for the penguins and did not need any more.
    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...s-penguin.html
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  16. #14
    Keeping busy is important. So is not dying.
    Last edited by Zippyjuan; 02-11-2015 at 03:11 PM.

  17. #15
    Quote Originally Posted by Anti Federalist View Post
    Genetic and historical luck of the draw (or God) is what most extreme longevity is to be credited to, as far as I'm concerned.

    Mr. Allingham could have just as easily taken a bullet at Somme.
    This is about right. I try to adopt healthy habits mainly so I feel good NOW, not so I will live a long time.

    Very old people are a bit like economists who correctly predict markets - there are so many to start with that a handful are bound to live a long time or correctly guess markets. But they can't tell you anything about how to live long or predict markets.

    But when a very old veteran tells us that war is stupid, we should listen. My father, who is 94 and a WWII vet, has recently begun referring to EVERY war as "a bunch of foolishness". Bless his heart.
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  18. #16
    Mostly luck of the draw. There are people who follow the same lifestyles who don't last as long. Though bad habits and actions can shorten your stay on this amazing planet.



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