Europe's oldest man - 111 today

[TheGuru]

Europe's oldest man - 111 today


Europe's oldest man turns 111 today - as guest of honour on on board Lord Nelson's iconic flagship Victory.
Vintage aircraft will perform a fly past, and the Band of the Royal Marines will play Happy Birthday for First World War hero Henry Allingham, reports the Daily Mirror.

Henry, who only recently moved into a care home in Brighton is now too frail to walk and is losing his sight and hearing.
Over the past year, he has made 60 public appearances, including meeting Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, a visit to 10 Downing Street to see Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, a garden party at Buckingham Palace, TV interviews and school talks.

Dennis Goodwin, chairman of the World War One Veterans' Association, looks after Henry's diary, takes him to events and is credited by Henry's family for giving him a new purpose to life since tracing him six years ago, when he was living as a recluse in Eastbourne.
Henry's memories of war and of seeing men dying in the trenches or burned alive in planes were so horrific he kept them secret and avoided veterans' get-togethers for 86 years.

But Dennis helped the old man, who took part in battles of the Somme, Ypres, Jutland and Passchendaele, and was shelled, bombed and shot, realise the historic importance of his recollections.

Dennis says: "It is another proud day for us all to see him reach 111 - although Henry is so modest he thinks it's terribly funny to see so much fuss just for living so long."

Wow thats quite impressive!

Have you got any relatives that lived a long time?

[smartsez]

now that really is old! dont think i even know anyone who lived to 100!