“Tomoji Tanabe, a Japanese retired civil engineer, had died peacefully in his sleep overnight. He was 113 years’ and 274 days’ old and had more than 50 great-grandchildren. Having foregone alcohol and cigarettes all his life, Tanabe had became the world’s oldest man in January 2007. That mantle has now passed to Mr Allingham — the first time a British person has ever held such a title. … Mr Allingham is quieter these days, but no codger at heart. In contrast to Mr Tanabe’s asceticism, he attributes his longevity to ‘cigarettes, whisky and wild, wild women.’ The Air Mechanic First Class is best known publicly for his war record, because of the many public engagements he has attended — up to 70 some years — including regular meetings with the Queen, politicians and soldiers returning from theatres of war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet he dislikes talking about conflict, saying only: ‘War’s stupid. Nobody wins.’” (06/20/09)