BIOGRAPHY

Owen Filer was born on 19 October 1919, in Pontnewydd (now part of Cwmbran) in South Wales, to parents Stanley Filer (1891–1945) and Leah Richards (1894–1985). He had one sister, Dorothea (1918–1988), and one brother, Kenneth (1926–1995). Owen’s childhood was marked by hardship and poverty. He grew up in a house he described as “originally a wooden shed for the canal barge to be stabled in.” The house had no electricity, gas, toilet, bath, or running water. Without access to running water, his mother had to carry water in a bucket from a nearby cottage, about 100 yards away. Owen walked to and from Upper Cwmbran Elementary School each day, regardless of the weather.

In 1934, at the age of 14, Owen left school and began working at Cwmbran Garden Hotel, where he tended the grounds and was responsible for feeding the pigs, chickens, and two goats, which also had to be milked. Unfortunately, he was dismissed from this position and then found work at a large poultry farm, where his duties included collecting hundreds of eggs daily and killing chickens to be sent to Sainsbury’s supermarket in London. After a year, Owen decided that job was not for him and was fortunate to secure an apprenticeship as a painter and decorator. In 1936, he began working for the Great Western Railway as a telephonist in the signal box.

In January 1940, Owen was called up for military service and began training with the Ninth Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in Llandudno, North Wales. After six weeks, he contracted meningitis and was hospitalized for treatment. Upon recovery, his duties as a military guard took him to various postings across the UK. In 1944, he was deployed to Bombay, where he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. After six and a half years in the army, Owen was flown home in 1946. Throughout his entire time in service, he was never issued live ammunition. Upon returning home, Owen resumed his employment with the Great Western Railway. In 1983, at the age of 64, he was asked to retire early to allow a young man with three children to take his position and avoid redundancy. Owen agreed to step down.

During his time in North Wales for army training, Owen met Laura Griffiths (1918–2004) at a milk bar in Llandudno. The two married on 28 July 1943, and went on to have four children. Their first son, Gareth, was born on 8 May 1945, while Owen was still stationed in Bombay. Upon his return to the UK, they welcomed three more children: daughter Ann on 16 June 1947, son Barry on 20 November 1948, and daughter Judith on 25 March 1951. Owen and Laura shared nearly 61 years of marriage until Laura passed away from a stroke on 8 June 2004, at the age of 85. Sadly, their eldest son Gareth died of cancer in April 2021 at the age of 75.

Owen first gained widespread attention for his youthful appearance when he was spotted on a street in Newport, South Wales, by ITV news reporter Rob Osborne. During an impromptu interview, Osborne was astonished to learn that Owen was 100 years old. The clip of their encounter quickly went viral on social media. After that, Owen made several appearances on ITV News. For his 101st birthday in 2020, he shared a message of hope during the Covid-19 pandemic, saying, “Happier times are ahead.” A devoted royalist, Owen was featured on the news at the age of 102 during Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in June 2022 and again in September 2022, offering his reflections on her death and funeral. In October 2024, Owen celebrated his 105th birthday, still living independently in Cwmbran.

Owen remains active, taking almost daily bus trips into town to shop for groceries and visit the local library. He also tends his garden and enjoys regular walks when the weather permits. A well-known figure in his community, Owen has become something of a local celebrity. In December 2024, he participated in a festive story for a Christmas fundraising event, further endearing himself to his neighbors and admirers.

RECOGNITION

His age was verified by Ben Hinchliffe, with the assistance of his family, and Owen Filer himself, and validated by LongeviQuest on 18 December 2024. Owen Filer personally located and provided his own documents, including childhood photographs and his autobiography.

ATTRIBUTION

GALLERY