John Farringdon blows out the candles on his 110th birthday with staff at Cubbington Mill Care Home in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire (Picture: SWNS)
One of the oldest people in the world is celebrating his 110th birthday with ABBA songs and a card from the King and Queen.
John Farringdon, who loves a nightly Grant’s whiskey and a full English breakfast, was born a year after the sinking of the Titanic.
The motor enthusiast grew up dreaming of becoming a Spitfire pilot but instead ‘enjoyed every moment’ of 40 years working for Ford.
His birthday party is in full swing today with an ABBA tribute act and a bespoke blue-and-white cake complete with the car giant’s logo.
The day was also marked with a signed card from King Charles and Queen Camilla, featuring a picture of the couple and expressing their ‘warmest congratulations and heartfelt good wishes on such a special occasion’.
It is the centenarian’s first card from King and Queen, following nine he received from Queen Elizabeth II.
‘To have this card on my birthday is the most wonderful thing on Earth,’ he said.
‘To be thought of by the King and Queen is the greatest thing I could have today.
‘I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart.’
John Farringdon spent four decades working for Ford and remains an avid motor enthusiast (Credits: SWNS)
John was born in Enfield, north London, on June 7, 1913.
He entered the world at a time when the Suffragettes were fighting for the women’s vote and the first closed-top automobiles were coming onto the market. Aged 16, he began his first job repairing typewriters.
John then worked for Ford in Dagenham, Essex, before moving to the car maker’s foundry in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, in 1942, where he made tank parts for the Army during the war years.
‘My ambition was to be a Spitfire pilot,’ he said. ‘But they turned me down when they called me up and I ended up working for Ford.
John originally dreamt of becoming a Spitfire pilot before spending 40 years working for Ford (Picture: Supplied)
‘They asked me if I’d like to work in another part of the country and there was nothing holding me down so I took it and came to Leamington.
‘I worked for them for 40 years and I enjoyed every moment of it.
‘I’ve been in Leamington ever since.’
John Farringdon and care home general manager Laura Russell with the card from the King and Queen (Picture: SWNS)
John marks the special occasion with staff and residents at Cubbington Mill Care Home in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire (Picture: SWNS)
John was in good cheer as he celebrated his 110th birthday with staff and residents at Cubbington Mill Care Home (Picture: SWNS)
John lists his first passion in life as driving and he was on the road for 88 years, with his last car being a Focus.
‘Naturally I had to have a good discount working for Ford,’ he said.
‘I never had a test because I was driving before it came in but I never had an accident in the 88 years I was driving. I had a clean licence and I gave it up when I was a hundred and five.’
John survives his long-term partner Vera, mother to his step-daughter Jennifer, who lives in Devon, and his wife Irene.
Speaking to Metro.co.uk at the party today, he recalled meeting Vera at the Fox and Hen pub, where he was captain of the darts team, in Southam, Warwickshire. Her aunt owned the pub at the time.
Some of the aviation enthusiast’s most treasured memories include watching the Red Arrows and he was thrilled to meet one of the pilots, Red 10, at the Midlands Air Festival last weekend.
‘One of the most wonderful things in my life is flying,’ he said.
‘I didn’t get there but to have Red 10 come to see me was one of the best things that’s ever happened to me.’
John Farringdon and his wife Irene take a stroll (Picture: Supplied)
John with ‘Red 10’ Graeme Muscat of the Red Arrows at the Midland Air Festival in June 2023 (Picture: Laura Renalson)
John now uses a wheelchair and needs a hearing aid but struck a picture of health as a brass band assembled on a lawn outside the home.
He sat down amid the decorations to a pork lunch with a lager and lime.
Asked if he’ll be marking the day with a whiskey, John replied: ‘I certainly will. I like a party and being with people, as long as I can hear them.
‘I like a drink every now and again and I had a small one at the air show.
‘If anyone offered me one any time, I’d accept.’
One of John’s other pleasures in life, ABBA, is also due to be represented at the party in the shape of a tribute act.
‘I soon as I saw them on television I liked everything about them,’ he said.
‘The songs and the music just blended perfectly.’
John said he is thankful for his health and for the Royal blessing from King Charles and Queen Camilla as he turns 110 (Picture: SWNS)
Care home worker Laura Renalson said: ‘Because of John’s amazing age he doesn’t have a big family of his own but at Cubbington Mill we are like a family and we’ll look out for him with anything he needs.
‘He has good people around him and every day there’s always a purpose to get up and something for him to do.
‘But all-round good care is the biggest part of us being able to mark this incredible birthday milestone with John.
‘We are very proud of him.’
John has remained chipper even after being admitted to hospital with pneumonia at the end of last year.
‘I’m very thankful for my health,’ he said. ‘It’s terrible to see what other people have had to suffer. I haven’t suffered much and I’m very thankful.
‘I’ve been busy all my life and If it wasn’t for my legs I’d still be active, going out and doing jobs.’
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John Farringdon is celebrating his birthday with his favourite ABBA songs and a glass of whiskey.