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Annie Jennings

European Supercentenarian Organisation
Validated By: European Supercentenarian Organisation On Date: Jan. 18th 2020

Annie Jennings (née Thomas) was a British supercentenarian who the oldest living person in Europe and the second-oldest living person in the world at the time of her death.

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Biography

Jennings was born in Tupton, Derbyshire, England, UK, on 12 November 1884.

At some point, she married Louis Jennings, who was the vicar of St Mary Magdalene’s Church in Walkeringham. Her husband died in 1945, after catching blackwater fever. The couple had no children. She worked as a teacher in Chesterfield.

At the age of 100, when she received a telegram from Queen Elizabeth II, she scowled: “Why should the Queen send me a telegram? She doesn’t know who I am, and I don’t know her.” Jennings, who was known to her friends as “Nancy”, was described as a “lovely lady with a tremendous sense of humour” and great agility despite her age. Apparently, when she heard she was included in the Guinness Books of Records, she was furious and insisted that being old was “nothing to shout about”.

Jennings passed away at her home in Wingerworth, Derbyshire, England, UK, on 20 November 1999, at the age of 115 years, 8 days.

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Recognition

On 23 October 1996, following the death of 111-year-old Helen Haward, she became the last surviving British person born in 1884.

On 9 December 1997, following the death of 114-year-old Lucy Askew, she became the oldest living person in the UK and Europe, as well as the last surviving British person born before 1885. However, she did not become the oldest living European-born person until the death of 113-year-old Italian-born American Amalia Barone on 26 June 1998.

On 18 November 1998, following the death of 114-year-old Tase Matsunaga of Japan, she became the second-oldest living person in the world, only behind then 117-year-old Sarah Knauss, who later outlived her by 40 days.

On 12 November 1999, she became the second British person to reach the age of 115, the first one being Charlotte Hughes in 1992.

Upon her death, Eva Morris succeeded her as the oldest living person in the UK and Europe, as well as the second-oldest living person in the world. At the age of 115 years, 8 days, Jennings remains the second-oldest person ever from the UK (after Charlotte Hughes who lived to 115 years, 228 days). She was also the world’s last surviving person born in 1884.

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Attribution

* “Oldest Briton dies at 115” – The Daily Telegraph, 26 November 1999

* “Fond memories of remarkable record breaker” – Retford Gainsborough and Worksop Times, 9 December 1999