Wales’ oldest man Owen Filer, 107, says fish and…
A British World War II veteran credit repeatedly chowing down on a serving of fish and chips for his longevity as he turns 107.
“Fish and chips, a full meal, a scoop full of chips and a fish,” Owen Filer told the BBC on Monday.
Filer, who was born in 1919 and is believed to be the oldest man in Wales, turned 107 on Friday.
British WWII veteran Owen Filer credit fish and chips and arduous work as he turns 107. ZUMAPRESS.com
He said he eats the deep-fried meal as often as he can — often with “genuine” cod or hake — but has “never overeaten.”
But past indulging in his favourite meal when he can, the veteran said his only real secret to a long life resides “properly.”
“How I got here I’ll never know, but I’ve met a lot of people who have admired me and asked me how I do it,” he told the outlet.
“No secret recipe, except that I always worked all my life.”
“You just live properly, and I’ve always done it,” he added.
Filer, who was born in 1919 and is believed to be the oldest man in Wales, turns 107 on Friday. ZUMAPRESS.com
Filer — a father of 4, grandfather of 10 and great-grandfather of 15 — said he never imagined dwelling to 107.
“I thought it would be a better world I would be living in, but I didn’t think I’d ever make it,” he said.
Growing up, he said, neither he nor his household gave a lot thought to “old age” because that they had larger issues to fear about.
“We had no food, we had no money,” he said.
Filer served with the Royal Welch Fusiliers, a historic infantry regiment of the British Army based in 1689, before turning into a navy police officer.
Beyond indulging in his favourite meal when he can, the veteran said his only real secret to a long life resides “properly.” ZUMAPRESS.com
He was stationed in India when the battle with Japan ended on VJ Day in 1945, the BBC reported.
SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, honored his navy service with a commemorative protect at a celebration on Monday, which also included a shock screening of the 1955 comedy “One Good Turn” at Market Hall Cinema in Brynmawr — billed as the oldest cinema in Wales.
Fellow veteran Darren Foote, who helped put together Filer’s celebration, called him a “down-to-earth guy” who didn’t perceive why people had been making such a “fuss” about his milestone birthday.
“He doesn’t get it at all,” Foote told the outlet.
As for his perspective toward life, Foote said Filer not often appears to suppose about his age.
“He still gets up in the morning, he puts a clean shirt on, puts his tie on, cleans his shoes, and he gets up with purpose,” Foote said.
“I think we can all take a leaf out of his book on that one, for sure.”
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