British man John Alfred Tinniswood, 111, has been confirmed as the world’s oldest man by Guinness World Records. It follows the death of the Venezuelan record-holder, Juan Vicente Pérez Mora, who died weeks before his 115th birthday.

Gisaburo Sonobe from Japan, who was expected to be crowned the oldest man, was confirmed to have died on March 31 at 112.

Tinniswood was presented with a certificate by Guinness World Records on Thursday where he lives in a care home in Southport, northwest England. Staff have described him as “a big chatterbox.”

Born in Liverpool on Aug. 26, 1912, a few months after the sinking of the Titanic, Tinniswood lived through two world wars, serving in the British Army Pay Corps in World War II. Tinniswood is the world’s oldest surviving male World War II veteran, said Guinness World Records. 

The retired accountant and great-grandfather said moderation was key to a healthy life. He never smokes, rarely drinks and follows no special diet, apart from a fish and chip supper once a week.

“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,” Tinniswood told Guinness World Records.

But ultimately, he said, “it’s pure luck. You either live long or you live short, and you can’t do much about it.”

The world’s oldest woman, and oldest living person, is 117-year-old Maria Branyas Morera of Spain.

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