World's second oldest man, 111, says secret to long life is "all the female company"

Celebrating his 111th birthday in style, John Farringdon, one of the world's oldest people, enjoyed a glass of whisky and an ABBA tribute band while receiving a whopping 111 cards from well-wishers. Born on June 7, 1913 in Enfield, on the Essex border and worked in Essex for 40 years, John is now firmly established as the second eldest man on the globe

After marking this extraordinary milestone in grand fashion at his Leamington Spa care home, he attributes his impressive longevity to a nightly tipple of Grant's whisky.The supercentenarian puts his longevity down to a nightly glass of Grant's whisky and a full English breakfast at his care home in Leamington Spa.

John has turned the same age as the world's oldest man John Tinniswood, who is also a Brit and lives in Liverpool. John, who was born a year after the Titanic sank and when George V was on the throne, marked the special occasion with a party at Cubbington Mill Care Home.

READ MORE: 31 pictures showing how Essex has celebrated LGBTQ+ Pride throughout the years

READ MORE: Inside the legendary but demolished Chelmsford nightclub that was an iconic part of the nightlife

John was born in Enfield, on the Essex border a year before the First World War and his first job was repairing typewriters at the age of 16. He then worked for car manufacturers Ford for 40 years - first in Dagenham, Essex, before moving to their foundry in Leamington Spa.

John made tank parts for the Army during the war years and he dreamed of being a Spitfire pilot, which unfortunately never materialised. But the motor enthusiast continued his love of cars and was still driving up until the age of 103. Fittingly, his last car was a Ford Focus.

Last year, the politics fan also got to achieve a life-long dream of visiting Parliament and meeting the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. John survives his long-term partner Vera, mother to his step-daughter Jennifer, who lives in Devon, and his wife Irene.

John said the secret to his long life might also be down to "all the female company" he's had. He added: "I didn't really know what was going to happen today, they kept all this a secret from me.

"I've just been trying to take everything in. I've had so many visitors. People ask me all the time what's the secret to living so long, I don't really know - maybe it's all the female company that I've had. My earliest memory is being turned down by air force, I wanted to be a Spitfire pilot. They turned me down on account of my deafness. I could have cried."

"I do remember bits of the First World War too, all the zeppelins coming over. D-day this week has been difficult to take in, you can't believe it, wading through that channel to deliver us from the Nazis. I remember it well."

"I'm told I'm the second oldest and I think the oldest looks a bit younger than me actually. It doesn't feel much different to be honest, there's not that much difference between that and 110."

After a visit from local schoolchildren, he enjoyed a barbecue, afternoon tea and a performance from an ABBA tribute band. Staff had put out an appeal on social media in a bid to get John 111 cards to mark his big day - alongside his nine from the Queen and his second from the King.

And they say they believe to have smashed the target after being inundated with cards and gifts from kind-hearted members of the community. Laura Russell, general manager at Cubbington Mill, said: "We wanted it to be special for John so we put an appeal out on social media for 111 cards."

"Because of his age, John doesn't have lots of family, but we here are like family to him and we are very proud to have him here. I think we've easily beaten that number although he's yet to open them all because it is going to take quite a while and we have a busy day for him planned."

"Last year we had to open his cards the following day just because we didn't have enough time. We've got children from the local school coming, followed by a barbecue this afternoon and who are supposed to be the world's best ABBA tribute band."

"His step-daughter is coming up from Devon, she's in her 80's herself and we're going to have afternoon tea as well. John enjoys a party so I'm sure we'll have a brilliant day."

"He enjoys a whisky John does - and I'm sure he'll have one today, probably more than just the one actually. He is now the second oldest man in the world - but you wouldn't know it if you met him."

"It's an honour to have him here and other than being hard of hearing he is still doing fantastic. During this week especially when we're remembering our D-Day veterans, it's quite poignant to celebrate somebody of this remarkable age."

Get more What's On news from EssexLive straight to your inbox for FREE