"Happy Birthday, Young Man": Wales’ Oldest Man Turns 107, Shares His Simple Secret to a Long Life

• Owen Filer, a 107-year-old World War Two veteran from Cwmbran, revealed his unusual secret to a long life in a BBC interview
• The Wales oldest man said he lived on fish and chips his whole life and never overate, insisting there is no secret recipe
• Filer served with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and was stationed in India on VJ Day in 1945, having outlived around 35 Prime Ministers

Owen Filer, a World War Two veteran from Cwmbran, Torfaen, is turning 107. His secret? A lifetime of fish and chips.

The centenarian, who is believed to be the oldest man in Wales, sat down with BBC Wales News for a warm and reflective interview ahead of his birthday. Asked about the key to his long life, he was refreshingly straightforward about it. He said:

"There is no secret. You just live properly and I've always done it."

Fish, chips and a century of living

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Filer, who was born in 1919, said his diet had been simple for most of his life. He recalled paying thruppence for fish and a penny for chips during his younger years, at a time when horses and carts were still a common sight on the streets.

"I lived on fish and chips."

Though he acknowledged the meal has become far more expensive over the decades.

Beyond his love of the chippy, Filer stressed that not overindulging had been central to his approach to life. He gave no elaborate health routine, no supplements, and no grand philosophy, just the idea of living sensibly.

A life that spans 35 Prime Ministers

Filer served with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and the Military Police, and was stationed in India on VJ Day in 1945 when the war in the Pacific finally ended. He spoke with quiet pride about having witnessed an extraordinary stretch of history, naming Stanley Baldwin, Ramsay MacDonald and Lloyd George among the leaders he had lived through. He said with a smile:

"I've seen them all off. They've all gone, come and gone."

That is roughly 35 Prime Ministers he has outlived.

View the Instagram video below:

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People react to the 107-year-old veteran

The video struck a chord with viewers around the world, many of whom flooded the comments with birthday wishes and admiration:

@themaskedvagabond said:

"He looks fantastic for his age."

@wyrd_war wrote:

"Happy Birthday, young man! 🎂"

@olly_101 commented:

"This man is an inspiration."

@whiskandcompany wrote:

"Congratulations and a very happy birthday to you sir! 🎉👏🏻🎂 And many more!!! 🐟🍟"

@days.of.mardi.\_ shared:

"This is my great uncle. Happy birthday Owen. Missing you loads x."

@nicknavaro joked:

"It's genetics not fish and chips 😂😂"

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Source: Briefly News