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John Farringdon was a British supercentenarian whose age has been validated by the European Supercentenarian Organisation (ESO). At the time of his passing, he was the second-oldest living man in the United Kingdom, behind John Tinniswood.
John Farringdon was born in Enfield, north London, on 7 June 1913, the only son out of four children. In the 1920s, aged 16, he began his first job repairing typewriters. A few years later, in 1934, he was employed by the Ford Motor Company as a typewriter mechanic. Although he initially aspired to be a Spitfire pilot for the Royal Air Force during World War II, he ultimately decided to stay working for Ford, where he helped manufacture tank parts for the Army during the war. He would remain employed at Ford for 40 years before retiring. In 1940, he married his wife, Irene, at Essex Registry Office, after meeting her while being stationed with her family during the war. The couple would remain together until Irene’s death at the age of 38. He would later meet a woman named Vera while playing darts at a local pub, who would become his long-term partner until her death around 1990.
An avid car enthusiast, Farringdon obtained his driving license at the age of 17 for just five shillings – according to him, he never took a driving test because he received his license before it was mandated. He would continue to drive for the next 88 years, only stopping when he turned 105, and never got into an accident. At the time of his 100th birthday in 2013, he still lived on his own, did his own cooking and shopping, and was known to still drive himself across the country to visit friends and family.
In June 2023, John Farringdon celebrated his 110th birthday and became a supercentenarian.
John Farringdon has received a letter of congratulations from the British royal family every year since turning 100. Some of his birthdays have received media attention in the United Kingdom.
His age was verified by Andrew Holmes, and validated by the European Supercentenarian Organisation (ESO) on 19 June 2023.
* “Leamington 100-year-old defies age stereotypes” – Warwickshire World, 13 June 2013
* “Meet arguably the oldest person in the Warwick district who is getting ready to celebrate his 107th birthday” – Warwickshire World, 27 May 2020
* “Leamington man born just a year after the Titanic’s maiden voyage is Warwickshire’s oldest man at 108” – Warwickshire World, 8 June 2021
* “One of world’s oldest people turns 110 with whiskey and card from King and Queen” – Metro, 7 June 2023
* “Ford Retiree Celebrates 110th Birthday in Same Month as Company Reaches 120” – Ford Motor Company, 23 June 2023
(Source: Warwickshire World)
(Source: Warwickshire World)
With his wife, Irene. (Source: Metro)
On his 100th birthday in 2013. (Source: Warwickshire World)
Shortly before his 109th birthday in 2022. (Source: Warwickshire World)
On his 110th birthday in 2023. (Source: Metro)
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