World
World’s oldest man, John Tinniswood, dies at 112, Guinness World Records announces
A man deemed the oldest in the world this past spring has passed away at age 112, Guinness World Records has announced.
John Tinniswood of Southport, England died Monday at a nursing facility where he lived.
“His last day was surrounded by music and love,” his family told Guinness World Records in a statement, adding that they are grateful for the people who cared for him.
Tinniswood became the world’s oldest living man in April 2024 at age 111, after 114-year-old Juan Vicente Pérez from Venezuela passed away, Guinness said on its website.
Tinniswood said living so long was simply “pure luck.”
According to Guinness, the oldest man ever was Japan’s Jiroemon Kimura, who lived to be 116 years and 54 days old.
The world’s oldest living woman and oldest living person overall was Spain’s Maria Branyas Morera, who passed away in August at age 117.
World’s oldest man received birthday cards from Queen Elizabeth II
According to Guinness World Records, Tinniswood was born in August 1912 in Liverpool, the same city where he was raised and met his wife, Blodwen.
The pair met at a dance and married in 1942, then a year later, they had their daughter, Susan. He and his wife were married for 44 years before she passed away in 1986, Guinness said.
Tinniswood served in the Royal Army Pay Corps during World War II, where he was tasked with administering finances, organizing food supplies and locating stranded soldiers, Guinness wrote.
In August, Guinness said Tinniswood was the world’s oldest surviving male World War II veteran.
He later worked for Shell and BP before retiring in 1972 at 60 years old.
Prior to Tinniswood’s Guinness World Record title, Queen Elizabeth II sent him a birthday card every year for 10 years, starting when he was 100 years old, Guinness said.
‘You either live long or you live short, and you can’t do much about it.’
Tinniswood made sure he did activities to stimulate his mind, including tuning into global politics on the radio and handling his own finances.
He also made time every Friday to enjoy a dish he loved: battered fish and chips. And in order to stay healthy, he did things in moderation, he said.
“If you drink too much or you eat too much or you walk too much … if you do too much of anything, you’re going to suffer eventually,” he said.
Tinniswood loved Liverpool Football Club and was born 20 years after it was founded, Guinness said. During his lifetime, he saw his club win eight Football Association Challenge Cups and 17 of their 19 league title wins, Guinness said.
When asked about his advice for younger people, Tinniswood encouraged them to give it their all.
“Always do the best you can, whether you’re learning something or whether you’re teaching someone,” he said. “Give it all you’ve got. Otherwise it’s not worth bothering with.”
Tinniswood leaves behind his daughter, Susan, four grandchildren, Annouchka, Marisa, Toby and Rupert and three great-grandchildren Tabitha, Callum and Nieve.
When asked about what it’s like to have lived so long and to have been recognized for it, Tinniswood previously said there’s not much to it.
“You either live long or you live short, and you can’t do much about it,” he said.
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at @SaleenMartin or email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
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