Or so Henry Allingham used to say when people asked him what his secret was to living a long life. Now he admits he really doesn’t know. D-Day was his 48th Birthday, and today is his 110th.
There are so few WWI vets still alive anywhere in the world these days. How remarkable it is that one of them is not only the oldest man in Britain, but also the only living person who took part in the battle of the Somme, the last participant of the battle of Jutland, AND the last original founding member of the RAF.
He recently moved in to a community for servicemen and women who have some degree of reduced visual acuity . From what I can tell he is now but one remarkable individual in an "outfit" of remarkable individuals.
Happy Birthday Sir,
and Many Happy Returns!
Update: For those of you who e-mailed me and pointed out that as the oldest man in Britain he would be the 'only one living' for a lot of things. Yes I know. HOWEVER, what are the odds that someone would have survived so many dangers on land and at sea, been part of the creation of a new Service, AND then lived to be the oldest man in Britain? Now, to the Grog Bowl with you...you...you Cavilers!
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