Oldest Man in Wales Attributes Longevity to Fish and Chips Diet
As he approaches his 107th birthday, Owen Filer shares his simple approach to a long life.
Owen Filer, believed to be the oldest man in Wales, is nearing his 107th birthday and attributes his longevity to a simple diet and a life of work. Filer, who resides in Cwmbran, stated that there is "no secret recipe" to his long life, emphasizing a lifestyle of consistent work and avoiding overeating.
"How I got here I'll never know, but I've met a lot of people who have admired me and asked me how do I do it," Filer said. "No secret recipe, except that I always worked all my life. There is no secret, you just live properly, and I've always done it. I've never overeaten… I lived on fish and chips."
He fondly recalled his diet consisting of "fish and chips, a full meal, a scoop full of chips and a fish, and it was cod and hake, it was genuine." Filer noted the significant change in the cost of such meals today.
Born in 1919, Filer served in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and later the Military Police during World War II. He celebrated his upcoming birthday with friends, family, and fellow veterans on Friday at the Market Hall Cinema in Brynmawr, ahead of his actual birthday on Monday.
On Friday, SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, presented Filer with a commemorative statuette to honor his military service. He reflected on his life, expressing surprise at reaching such an advanced age. "I thought it would be a better world I would be living in, but I didn't think I'd ever make it," he stated.
Filer was accompanied to the event by his daughter Anne Messore, 80, one of his four children. He is also a grandfather to 10 and great-grandfather to 15.
Later that day, Filer was treated to a red carpet welcome at the Market Hall Cinema in Brynmawr, where he chose to watch the film "One Good Turn."
Darren Foote, a fellow veteran involved in organizing the celebrations, described Filer as a "really nice, down to earth guy" who doesn't fully grasp the fuss made over him. Foote added, "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. I think we can all take a leaf out of his book on that one, for sure."