Fags, whisky & women gave him a long life

Henry Allingham (113), now the oldest man in the world, had once attributed his longevity to these vices

The man who once joked that his longevity was because of cigarettes, whisky and 'wild, wild women' yesterday became the world's oldest man, according to the Guinness Book of Records.

Henry Allingham, a World War veteran, succeeded to the title at the grand old age of 113, after the previous incumbent, Tomoji Tanabe, died in his sleep at his home in Japan, also at the age of 113. Tanabe was older by 252 days.

The Japanese still have roughly twice as many centenarians per head of population, their longevity being attributed to a combination of the right genes, helped by a diet low in animal fats.
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But better medical care and higher birth rates mean that other countries, including Britain, are catching up on
them.

In 1911, when Allingham was a teenage apprentice, there were an estimated 100 centenarians in Britain. In 2006, there were 8,970.

Born on June, 1896, the young Allingham signed up for the war thinking it would be a great adventure, but became the symbol of the sacrifice of a generation. He now believes war is "stupid".

"Nobody wins," he said recently. "You might as well talk first, you have to talk last anyway."

Allingham, and his wife were together for more than 50 years. He heads a family hat now includes his first great-great-great-grandchild.

He also has five grandchildren, 12 great grand-children and 14 great-great grand-childrenWhereas Tanabe put his longevity down to a daily glass of milk, Allingham, when asked how he had lived so long, said, "I don't now if there's a secret, but keeping within your capacity is vital.

"I've had two breakdowns, one during the war (World War II) and one after, but both when I was trying to
do the work of three men.

The trick is to look after yourself and always know your limitations."

A friend said yesterday Allingham was still letting news of his distinction sink in.

"He thinks he has got to a time where he is more than ready to go. But his mother used to say, 'Wait to be asked, Henry, wait to be asked'."

(Source: The Times and The Daily Mail)