Fish and Chips Diet Recommended by Wales’s Oldest Man at 106 2026

Key Points

• Owen Filer, who lives in Cwmbran, is ready to celebrate his 107th birthday on Monday, 19 October.
• Mr Filer was born on 19 October 1919 in Pontnewydd and is referred to as the oldest man and veteran in Wales.
• Mr Filer said there is “no secret” of longevity apart from “living properly”, working all one’s life and not overeating.
• According to the Romsey Advertiser and other Newsquest publications, Mr Filer said: “I lived on fish and chips”, including cod and hake.
• According to the South Wales Argus, he also referred to “homemade Welsh cakes” when asked about the secret of longevity.
• Mr Filer served with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and then with the Military Police during the Second World War.
• SSAFA, an Armed Forces charity, presented him with a commemorative shield in recognition of his military service.
• The celebrations took place at the Tredegar Veterans Hub on Friday, 16 October, before his birthday.
• Later, he had a red-carpet treatment at Market Hall Cinema in Brynmawr and watched a film One Good Turn.
• Mr Filer said about turning 107: “I thought it would be a better world I would be living in, but I didn’t think I’d ever make it.”

Wales (Wales Times) October 16, 2026 – Wales’s oldest man, Owen Filer, has said that a lifetime of fish and chips, hard work and living “properly” helped carry him towards his 107th birthday, as veterans, family members and local supporters gathered to honour him ahead of the milestone.

Mr Filer, who lives in Cwmbran, will turn 107 on Monday. His birthday celebrations began early on Friday, 16 October, at the Tredegar Veterans Hub, where he was joined by friends, family and fellow veterans.

As reported by the Romsey Advertiser, Mr Filer said there was “no secret” to his long life other than living “properly”. He told those gathered that he had always worked and had never overeaten.

What did Owen Filer say about fish and chips?

According to the Romsey Advertiser, Mr Filer said: “No secret recipe, except that I always worked all my life.

“There is no secret, you just live properly, and I’ve always done it.

“I’ve never overeaten… I lived on fish and chips.

“Fish and chips, a full meal, a scoop full of chips and a fish, and it was cod and hake, it was genuine.”

His remarks were widely reported across regional Newsquest titles, including the Romsey Advertiser, Herts Advertiser and Brentwood Weekly News. The reports quoted him describing fish and chips as a full meal, with a portion of chips and fish, specifically cod and hake.

The South Wales Argus, however, reported a slightly different answer when Mr Filer was asked about the secret to his long life. As reported by the South Wales Argus, he said: “Homemade Welsh cakes.”

The difference in the reported answers reflects the different moments and questions during the celebrations. Mr Filer’s comments about fish and chips were quoted in the national Newsquest report carried by the Romsey Advertiser, while the South Wales Argus focused on his birthday event at the veterans hub and quoted his reference to Welsh cakes.

How was Owen Filer honoured before his birthday?

Mr Filer was presented with a commemorative shield by SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, in recognition of his military service and in early celebration of his birthday.

As reported by the Romsey Advertiser, the presentation took place on Friday. The South Wales Argus reported that he received a certificate and trophy from SSAFA recognising him as Wales’s oldest man and oldest veteran.

The South Wales Argus also reported that Mr Filer’s connection with SSAFA began more than 80 years ago during his military service. According to the report, he shared his story with SSAFA volunteers in Cwmbran last year, which inspired them to help make his 107th birthday especially memorable.

SSAFA volunteers and local people gathered to honour Mr Filer’s life and service. The event marked more than a century of memories and experiences for the Cwmbran veteran.

Why is Owen Filer described as Wales’s oldest man?

Mr Filer was born in Pontnewydd, now part of Cwmbran, on 19 October 1919. The South Wales Argus reported that he left school at 14 and worked at the Cwmbran Gardens Hotel before being called up to serve in the Second World War at the age of 20.

As reported by the Romsey Advertiser, he served with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and then the Military Police during the Second World War.

His status as Wales’s oldest man has also been recognised by longevity researchers. LongeviQuest lists Mr Filer as born on 19 October 1919 in Pontnewydd, Wales, and says his age was verified by Ben Hinchliffe, with assistance from his family and Mr Filer himself, before being validated by LongeviQuest on 18 December 2024.

The South Wales Argus described him as Wales’s oldest man and oldest veteran in its report on the birthday celebration.

What happened at the cinema celebration?

Later on Friday, Mr Filer was surprised with a red-carpet welcome at Market Hall Cinema in Brynmawr.

As reported by the Romsey Advertiser, he chose a screening of the film One Good Turn. The South Wales Argus reported that the film was a Norman Wisdom film of his choice, and that Mr Filer was due to receive a police escort and red-carpet welcome before watching it.

The cinema visit followed the earlier event at the Tredegar Veterans Hub, where Mr Filer was celebrated by SSAFA volunteers, fellow veterans and members of the local community.

What did Owen Filer say about turning 107?

Asked how he felt about turning 107, Mr Filer said, as reported by the Romsey Advertiser: “I thought it would be a better world I would be living in, but I didn’t think I’d ever make it.”

His comment was reported as part of the coverage of the early birthday celebrations, which combined recognition of his wartime service with a public celebration of his longevity.

Mr Filer has previously attracted attention for his age. ITV News Wales reported in 2023 that he found fame after stopping an ITV news crew in uk/local/newport/">Newport and revealing that he was 100, although the crew did not initially believe him.

What is known about Owen Filer’s early life?

Mr Filer was born in Pontnewydd on 19 October 1919, according to the South Wales Argus.

LongeviQuest identifies his parents as Stanley Filer, who lived from 1891 to 1945, and Leah Richards, who lived from 1894 to 1985.

The South Wales Argus reported that he left school at 14 and worked at the Cwmbran Gardens Hotel before military service.

His wartime service included time with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and later the Military Police, according to the Romsey Advertiser.

Background of the development

Owen Filer’s approaching 107th birthday places him among the oldest known living men in Wales. LongeviQuest describes him as a British centenarian and one of the oldest known living men in Wales, and records that he celebrated his 105th birthday in October 2024 while still living independently in Cwmbran.

His public profile grew after an encounter with an ITV news crew in Newport, when he revealed that he was 100 years old. ITV News Wales reported that the crew did not believe him at first, but he later became known in Wales and beyond as one of the country’s best-known centenarians.

The latest celebrations were organised around his military connection. SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, presented him with a commemorative shield, while the South Wales Argus reported that he also received a certificate and trophy recognising him as Wales’s oldest man and oldest veteran.

The event brought together his personal history, wartime service and local community recognition. It also highlighted the role of SSAFA volunteers, who the South Wales Argus said were inspired to make the birthday memorable after hearing his story in Cwmbran the previous year.

Prediction: How this development can affect older veterans and local communities

For older veterans and their families, Mr Filer’s birthday recognition may encourage greater attention to the long-term needs of people who served decades ago. The involvement of SSAFA shows how veteran-focused charities can continue supporting former service personnel into very old age, particularly through commemorative events, local volunteering and community contact.

For local communities in Cwmbran, Tredegar and Brynmawr, the celebrations may strengthen awareness of veterans’ hubs and the value of intergenerational events. The gathering at the Tredegar Veterans Hub brought together SSAFA volunteers, local people, family members and fellow veterans, providing an example of how local organisations can mark personal milestones while also recognising military service.

For readers interested in healthy ageing, Mr Filer’s comments are likely to attract attention because they challenge assumptions that extreme longevity depends on a strict modern diet or fitness routine. However, his own account working throughout life, avoiding overeating and describing a straightforward diet of fish and chips should be understood as one individual’s recollection rather than medical guidance. The differing reports, which quote him crediting both fish and chips and homemade Welsh cakes, also show that such remarks are personal reflections rather than a verified formula for living beyond 100.

For local media and community organisations, the story may prompt further coverage of centenarians and veterans in Wales, particularly where charities, cinemas, councils and volunteers work together to create public celebrations. Mr Filer’s red-carpet cinema visit in Brynmawr demonstrates how a personal birthday can become a wider community occasion, while still centred on the individual’s own wishes and history.