Visiting Owen Filer, One of the Oldest Men in Wales

Written by Ben Hinchliffe, LongeviQuest researcher for the United Kingdom

On a damp February morning my train pulled up at Cwmbran train station in South Wales where I was warmly greeted by centenarian Owen Filer, age 105, and his son Barry. Mr Filer was dressed in his smart attire as always, including his best coat (more on that later), his trademark trilby hat and a suit, shirt and tie. A true man of his generation, he never wears anything else. Upon my arrival former railway signalman Owen was disgruntled that the train driver hadn’t made up a ten minute delay. The previous evening, the ever caring Owen had walked to his son’s house with a piece of paper he had acquired from the train station with train times and tracking information for my train, telling his son I might need the information.

Owen was fast to tell me he’d been so excited for my visit he set an alarm for 8:00 AM. This shocked his son given Owen is a night owl who prefers staying up until midnight over rising early. Seemingly amazed at himself, he said, “It actually worked! It woke me up! I can sleep and sleep for 12 hours, always have done, but I was so excited for your visit I got up.” Owen then told me a story about how he once slept so much when he was younger he was almost late for work, after his first night shift at age 16. He said “I went to bed in the morning and slept. Then the landlady came to wake me to say are you going to work tonight? I said yes she said well it’s dark you better get going! I’d slept all day, with no food! The same happened the next day… slept all day, no food for 48 hours!”

 

We drove to a very nice local hotel “The Parkway.” Owen’s son dropped us at the entrance and as soon as we walked in, Owen said “I want to talk to someone…” so he walked over to reception and I presumed he was going to tell them we had a reservation, but no… he lifted a carrier bag onto the desk and swiftly removed its contents. Inside was his previously received and newly framed certificate from LongeviQuest. He proudly stood this on the desk and told the receptionist he was very likely Wales’ oldest man and this young man (me) had come a long way to visit him. They were amazed but sadly didn’t seem interested in Owen’s offer to display his photo so that it might gain them some publicity.

Once we settled over coffee Owen showed off his amazing memory, easily recalling events from 100 years prior. He recalled his poverty stricken childhood with happiness saying “we had nothing, no shoes, no toilet, no electricity; but that’s the way it was for so many people in the 1920s.” When I asked about Christmas he said, “we didn’t know there was such a thing until the 1930s. It was just like any other day. And this year [2024] I didn’t get a Christmas dinner either because I had the flu!” Then, showing off his amazing memory, he almost reeled off all UK prime ministers from 1919 to present day and the 5 monarchs under who he’s lived.

 

Owen soon revealed he has knowledge of the world’s oldest people or at least the oldest British person, Ethel Caterham. He told me he’d seen her on the news and remembered she was born in 1909, “ten years before me!” He wonders if he’ll make it ten more! He couldn’t believe that, until recently, the world’s oldest man lived in nearby Southport, England. He said with a cheeky grin, “oh one day in a few years it could be a man from Wales…”

In the hotel lounge there was a piano, and learning that I am a pianist piqued Owen’s interested. He had always wished he had learnt, joking, “do you think it’s too late to start now?” Learning I was also an organist who occasionally accompanied silent movies sparked Owen’s memory of watching the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Harold Lloyd and his favorite cowboy films accompanied by a pianist in the 1920s. He had to beg his mum for a penny so he could go. When I told Owen in March I was to accompany a Laurel and Hardy silent film, he started to hum their once well-known theme tune. Owen spoke of how much he loved listening to the organ and how he would travel to Cardiff to listen and even visited the Blackpool Tower ballroom to listen to Wurlitzer. He was amazed to find out I had personally played there.

After a good hour of conversation a local reporter arrived, also called Ben, to which Owen said he was surrounded by Bens as it was his grandfather’s name and he has a grandson called Ben too. At this point Owen was delighted and uncharacteristically speechless when he was presented with his LongeviQuest trophy. His eyes then lit up to find inside a gift bag, 4 large bars of his favorite Cadbury’s chocolate. He quipped it was like another birthday, or that Christmas had arrived early. He then joked, “I can open a shop now! I have these biscuits [from the hotel] and chocolate! I have a brass bell to ring, so I’ll open a shop!” His infectious laugh filled the hotel lobby.

 

Soon after, Owen treated me to lunch, insisting I quickly choose something off the menu since I must be starving after my journey. He told me that he isn’t bothered by food and can get by easily on one meal a day and it’s been that way all his life. Perhaps this is his secret to longevity? It’s been said fasting improves health so perhaps longevity too… Owen quipped, “when I was a child we went to bed hungry every night. There was bread, but my mum said that’s for breakfast if you have it now you won’t have it in the morning. So we had to try sleep on a hungry stomach. Now I have all the food I want, but I can go without it!” However, once lunch arrived Owen tucked in and cleared his plate!

After lunch Owen invited me to his home. We walked the short distance from his son’s house just as the local school children were coming out. Owen told me he loves children (as was evident by his interaction with a newly walking toddler in the hotel) and the feeling seemed mutual as several spoke to him on our way. Once inside he proudly showed me his 100th birthday card from Queen Elizabeth II and his 105th from King Charles. He said, “can you believe you have to wait 5 years for a second! But it’s okay, I get one every year from now on!” He also joked, “look at my coat… it’s the same as the King’s but mine looks better! I bet I’ve had it longer too!” He also regaled me with another royal tale… with a smile he told me, “on my last birthday, my 105th, I was standing here [his living room] opening my card from the King and who do I see on the TV? In Australia? The King, there he was! I shouted to the screen thank you Your Majesty! How did you get it here so fast from Sydney?” His infectious laugh then filled the room once again.

Owen certainly doesn’t look or act his 105 years. He travels to town everyday except Sunday to do his shopping and also takes a daily walk. He does his own washing and ironing, and even cuts his own lawn. He joked, “I don’t want to get old, I don’t think I will, I’ll stay going. It sure beats the alternative though, why die when you can carry on living.” I asked if he wanted to become a supercentenarian and reach 110. He said “110? Why not? I’ll see you then!”

 

Before long, after I’d spent what seemed a very fast 5 hours in Cwmbran, it was unfortunately time to leave. I could’ve stayed all day listening to Owen’s stories from his 105 years. Owen kindly accompanied me back to the train station with his son Barry, insisting on taking me right to the platform so he could make sure the train was coming. As I boarded the train Owen said, “you must come back, maybe in summer, I can show you the great views then! The mountains where I used to walk are hiding today, but come back I’ll show you. Also you can play the organ for me at the church!” This is an invite I’ve already gladly accepted. What a true gentleman he is.

I’d like to send my heartfelt thanks to Mr Filer and his son Barry for being so welcoming and kind to me. I think it’s safe to say a very pleasant day was had by all, and I’ve already been told Owen will be showing off his trophy for weeks to come. I say why not, I’d be showing off too!