Britain’s 12th oldest man turned 107 and revealed the secret to his longevity.
Leonard Howes, born in 1916, served in the Second World War, experienced the reigns of five different monarchs in his life and has already received four birthday cards from Buckingham Palace: one to mark his 100th birthday, another to mark his 105th birthday and two more the following year Years.
Leonard, the oldest person in his hometown of Bristol, celebrated his 107th birthday with his entire family.
Carol Howes, her daughter-in-law, commented: “She attributes her longevity to eating shredded wheat with whole milk and lots of sugar for as long as she can remember.”
Leonard Howes and his bowl of grated wheat
(Carol Howes/SWNS)
Len, as he is affectionately known to his family, left school at the age of 14 to train as a plumber.
In 1937, the Bristol City football fan got a job at the British General Post Office, where he worked for the next 44 years, retiring in 1981 at the age of 65, shortly after the company collapsed. It became British Telecom.
Len served in the Royal Signal Corps in World War II as an electrical engineer.
During the Blitz he was stationed at a Wiltshire military station, Box Hill, repairing bomb damage to telephone cables.
He also worked to intercept possible communications and electrical signals from enemy lines at Forest Moor “Y” Station, a British Royal Navy shore base in Harrogate.
(Carol Howes/SWNS)
On Victory in Europe Day in 1945, Len proudly marched through the city and was cheered by the crowd.
Leonard Howes with his wife Alice in their youth.
(Courtesy of Carol Howes/SWNS)
As for his family, his parents died in 1945 and 1946, while his wife Alice died in December 2000 at the age of 81. The couple was married for 60 years.
Len has lived in Newquay, Cornwall, for 10 years with David, his only son and daughter-in-law Carol.
Len Howes in Mallorca, 1972.
(Courtesy of Carol Howes/SWNS)
Carol added: “Len had a great time celebrating with the rest of the family, including grandson Nick, granddaughter Jenny and great-grandchildren Ollie and Jacob.”
“We always think of a theme for his birthday cake and this year it was fish and chips and fondant mushy peas, his favorite food. So we just ate fish and chips all Saturday.”
Carol explained that although Len is almost deaf, he is still active, informed about current events and exercising his brain.
Len Howes was born on October 14, 1916 in Bristol, England.
(Carol Howes/SWNS)
He also noted, “At age 95, we gave him an iPad, which he uses every day to follow the news and do crossword puzzles.”
“Also use the Find My Friends app to follow the family on their visits from Bristol and Swindon.”
“He has become a bit forgetful lately and uses a walker to get around because his legs are unstable, but he is doing very well for his age.”
He turned 107 on October 14th.
Translation by Michelle Padilla