The secret of a long life: Cigarettes, whisky, and wild women

[IndianaGreen]

The secret of a long life: Cigarettes, whisky, and wild women

Henry Allingham, now the world's oldest man prescribes 'Cigarettes, whisky, and wild women'

By Jerome Taylor

Saturday, 20 June 2009

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.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/the-secret-of-a-long-life-cigarettes-whisky-and-wild-women-1710744.html

Happy birthday, Henry! :toast:

[babylonsister]

1. Imagine embracing the title of 'most ancient'. I hope he knows

he's it.

Many happy years ahead, Henry. :toast:

[IndianaGreen]

2. A war hero to boot!

The Brits paid a very heavy price during the Great War.

[Botany]

3. He is a very wise man

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


Go get 'em Henry

[IndianaGreen]

4. He nailed that one alright: "War's stupid. Nobody wins."

He has lived through things that I have read in the history books.

[Botany]

5. He was in WW I and helped found the R.A.F. which helped stop the ..

... the Nazis and save the western world and yet he like Ike and Sir. Montgomery knew what war was
really about killing and horror ..... he reminds me of my Dad Korean War Navy Officer ..... I watched
a war movie as a kid that showed shells splashing by a ship ...... my Dad told me that one shell fell
short and the next shell fell long and you had better hope that your gun hit "his gun" first.