If you want to know the secret to long life, who better to ask than the oldest person in the UK?
The UK's oldest man has revealed his long life secret this week, and it's one we can all get on board with. Not yoga, not meditation, no, according to John Tinniswood the real key to a long life is having a good chippy tea on a Friday night.
Mr Tinniswood is celebrating his 109th birthday this week and has just received his ninth telegraph from Her Majesty the Queen. He's joked he could “get a couple hundred quid” for his letter on eBay, which we expect would pay for quite a few more chippy teas. Not a bad hustle.
Speaking to ITV Granadaa, he said that his secret to living a long time was a Friday chippy tea and not overdoing it.
Born in Liverpool in 1912, he now lives in Southport in a retirement home and is rather nonchalant about his significant age. However, to the rest of us it's quite a feat.
“Always try never to exceed what you can normally do,” John told ITV Granada.
“Otherwise you’re going to injure yourself either physically or mentally, so always stay within your limits of what you can do.”
The great granddad has seen so much in his life, living through the sinking of the Titanic, two world wars and was already in his fifties when The Beatles launched to fame with their first hit single, Love Me Do
John’s carers also spoke to ITV and praised his wit, with one affectionately adding: “He doesn’t want a fuss [and] in previous years he’s said being in his hundreds is no different to being in his 90s or 80s.”
“He’s a pleasure,” she concluded.
Asked what advice he would give to anyone looking to live a life as long as his, John said: “Well, that would be rather impudent in a way.
"Each do as he wants.”
Feature image - ITV Granada.
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When Yorkshire is due to get hot as a fourth heatwave of the year hits the UK
Yes, ANOTHER heatwave is set to hit the UK - the fourth in 2026 so far - and, understandably, Yorkshire residents are already preparing for the latest blast of hot weather and wondering when it arrives.
Yes, in case you missed the news, more high temperatures are set to spread across the UK and Ireland this month and heading into August.
The increase will gradually build throughout this week, with Wednesday tipped to be the hottest day according to various meteorologists.
While Yorkshire thankfully isn't quite slated to get the sweatiest, parts of the Midlands and the usual suspects down south are set to hit the highest numbers, but the thermometers are still on course to reach around the mid-20s over the coming days.
Estimates of 26°C were predicted for this coming Tuesday, with the levels floating in and around 24/25 on the following Wednesday.
The heat is then due to drop off slowly, with top scores of no higher than 21°C on the cards for Thursday and Friday. Although the weekend forecast is less certain at present, one thing that has been announced is reduced rainfall.
Aside from a few more trickles today (Mon, 27 July), the showers or lack thereof cease rather soon, with some of the driest parts of the country already having various effects; for instance, parched parts of Wales have even revealed lost archaeological sites last Friday (24/7/2026).
It would be remiss if we didn't mention the obvious moorland fires across our region, which were sadly exacerbated by hot weather earlier this month.
At least it'll be a bit cooler here than in other parts of the country. ☀️
Bus operator partners with Leeds hospitals to help mums-to-be make vital appointments
Clementine Hall
First Bus is partnering with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to support vulnerable women during pregnancy.
The bus operator is providing an incredible 1,000 day tickets to help vulnerable mums-to-be make appointments.
The free travel passes can be provided by maternity teams to women mainly from minority or disadvantaged communities, helping them to attent important check-ups and appointments.
A recent review of records estimates that 100 pregnant women every month struggle to make hospital appointments as they have no access to funding support or face other barriers to transport.
Image: Supplied
First Bus will provide 100 day tickets per month until March 2027 for midwives to distribute to women based on travel needs following a financial assessment which is carried out during their initial appointment with the maternity team.
Nada Abdul-Majid, Specialist Midwife Health Equity at the Trust, said: “I’ve seen first-hand how women struggle to get to their hospital appointments if they don’t have enough money to use public transport.
“Our Haamla team carry out home visits to these vulnerable women however, it is important that families are able to travel to the hospital for scans, doctors’ appointments, labour and obstetric emergencies.”
Zoe Hands, Managing Director of First Bus Franchising which includes the West Yorkshire region, said: “Supporting communities in the areas we serve means, where we can, being able to assist people in all stages of life. Nothing can be more important than helping to ensure the health and welfare of mothers-to-be and the benefits this will bring to their newborn children.
“We’re pleased to be working in partnership with the Trust and seeing the positive impact our travel support can make to the lives of vulnerable women in Leeds.
“We’re really grateful to First Bus for providing these tickets for women so they can receive maternity care without worrying about the cost of travel to and from appointments,” added Nada. “This will make a real difference to mothers and babies.”
Georgina Pellant -
27th August 2021 
