Wales’ oldest man Owen Filer credits fish and chips at 107 2026

Key Points

• Owen Filer, who lives in Cwmbran and is a veteran of the Second World War, is thought to be the oldest living man in Wales and will celebrate his 107th birthday on Monday, 19 October.
• Mr Filer said that his recipe for longevity is simple – to work hard and live a “proper” life.
• “I have never overate,” Mr Filer said, adding that he “always lived on fish and chips – a full meal of chips and either cod or hake.”
• He celebrated his birthday early on Friday, 16 October, surrounded by family members, friends, fellow veterans and SSAFA volunteers at the Tredegar Veterans Support Hub.
• SSAFA, which is an Armed Forces charity, presented him with a special gift as a token of appreciation for his contribution to the country’s defense and longstanding association with SSAFA.
• Mr Filer was born in Pontnewydd on 19 October 1919 and he served in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and Corps of Military Police (India) in Bombay during the Second World War.
• One of his four daughters, Anne Messore, 80, joined him at the celebration.
• Mr Filer has 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Wales (Wales Times) October 17, 2026 — Owen Filer, the man believed to be Wales’ oldest resident, has credited a lifetime of hard work, moderation and a diet of fish and chips as he prepares to celebrate his 107th birthday on Monday, 19 October.

As reported by Eleanor Storey of the Press Association, Mr Filer said there was “no secret” to a long life other than living “properly”. He made the comments as he marked the milestone early with relatives, friends and fellow ex-servicemen on Friday, 16 October.

Mr Filer, who was born in 1919, served with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers before joining the Military Police during the Second World War. He 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.”

What did Owen Filer say about fish and chips?

Mr Filer described fish and chips as a complete and affordable meal during his younger years. As quoted by WalesOnline, he said: “Fish and chips, a full meal, a scoop full of chips and a fish, and it was cod and hake, it was genuine.”

He also reflected on how much prices have changed. According to the Manchester Evening News report, Mr Filer said: “You can’t afford it nowadays, can you? Such a difference, it’s astonishing.”

The remarks were widely reported by national and regional outlets, including LBC, the South Wales Argus, the Daily Post, the Express & Star and Nation.Cymru, all attributing the account to the Press Association.

How was Owen Filer honoured by SSAFA?

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, honoured Mr Filer at the Tredegar Veterans Support Hub on Friday. Volunteers from SSAFA’s South East Wales Branch presented him with a special gift in recognition of his military service and his long-standing connection with the charity.

According to SSAFA, Mr Filer’s link with the charity began more than 80 years ago, when he received support while serving overseas during the war. The connection resurfaced last year after he met SSAFA volunteers in Cwmbran and shared memories of that wartime assistance.

As reported by WalesOnline, Mr Filer received a commemorative statuette ahead of his actual birthday on Monday. The South Wales Argus separately reported that he was presented with a certificate and trophy recognising him as Wales’ oldest man and oldest veteran.

His daughter, Anne Messore, 80, one of his four children, joined him at the ceremony. Mr Filer is also a grandfather to 10 and a great-grandfather to 15.

Who is Owen Filer?

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

SSAFA states that he served with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers before joining the Corps of Military Police (India) and serving in Bombay during the Second World War.

The charity said the birthday event at the Tredegar Veterans Support Hub was attended by family, friends, fellow veterans and SSAFA representatives. It added that a buffet lunch was supported by Tai Calon, which helped fund the occasion.

What did Owen Filer say about reaching 107?

Mr Filer said he had not expected to live to such an advanced age. As reported by WalesOnline, he said: “I thought the world would be better by now, but I never anticipated living this long.”

The Manchester Evening News further quoted him as saying: “In our family, no one ever considered old age. We had little food and no money—that’s the truth.”

His comments about longevity were not presented as medical advice, but as his personal recollection of a life marked by work, modest eating and routine. He repeatedly emphasised that he had not overindulged and had lived “properly”.

How did fellow veterans describe Owen Filer?

Darren Foote, a fellow veteran involved in organising the birthday celebrations, said Mr Filer did not fully understand why so much attention was being paid to him. As reported by the Manchester Evening News, Mr Foote described him as “a genuinely nice, down-to-earth person”.

Mr Foote added:

“Every morning, he gets up, puts on a clean shirt and tie, shines his shoes, and rises with purpose. We could all learn a thing or two from him.”

The South Wales Argus reported that Mr Filer still travels to Asda every day by bus, although it attributed his stated “secret” to long life in that report as “homemade Welsh cakes”.

How will the birthday celebrations continue?

The celebration was due to continue at Market Hall Cinema in Brynmawr. According to the South Wales Argus, Mr Filer was to receive a police escort and a red-carpet welcome before watching a Norman Wisdom film of his choice.

The Manchester Evening News reported that he chose to watch One Good Turn, a British comedy film from 1955 featuring Norman Wisdom, Joan Rice and Shirley Abicair.

The cinema outing followed the earlier ceremony at the Tredegar Veterans Support Hub, where community members, SSAFA volunteers and local people gathered to recognise his service and long life.

Background of the development

Owen Filer’s story has drawn attention because he is believed to be Wales’ oldest man and one of the country’s oldest surviving Second World War veterans. He was born in 1919, more than a century ago, and served overseas during the war before returning to civilian life in south Wales.

His connection with SSAFA dates back more than 80 years, when the charity supported him while he was serving overseas. SSAFA said that he recounted those memories to volunteers in Cwmbran last year, prompting the charity to help make his 107th birthday especially memorable.

The celebration brought together several parts of his life: his military service, his family, his local community and the veterans’ support network. The event at Tredegar Veterans Support Hub was supported by SSAFA volunteers and funded in part by Tai Calon, while the later cinema visit was arranged as a further tribute.

Prediction: How can this development affect older veterans and their families?

For older veterans and their families, Mr Filer’s 107th birthday may reinforce the importance of long-term veteran support services, particularly organisations such as SSAFA that maintain contact with former service personnel across decades. His case shows how a wartime connection with a charity can resurface many years later and lead to practical recognition and community support.

For local communities in Cwmbran, Tredegar and Brynmawr, the events may encourage greater participation in veterans’ hubs, commemorative activities and intergenerational events. The presence of family members, fellow veterans, SSAFA volunteers and local supporters demonstrates how such gatherings can provide social connection for very elderly people.

For readers interested in healthy ageing, Mr Filer’s comments are likely to prompt discussion about diet, moderation and daily routine. However, his experience is personal rather than clinical evidence: he himself framed his longevity around working throughout his life, not overeating and living “properly”, while separately mentioning fish and chips and homemade Welsh cakes in different reports.