Brief

Wales’ oldest man credits fish and chips for longevity as he nears 107

Owen Filer, believed to be Wales' oldest resident, attributes his near‑century‑plus life to a lifelong diet of fish and chips.

By Felo News Desk · Published Sat, 17 Oct 2026 08:24:22 GMT

Owen Filer, a 106‑year‑old resident of Cwmbran, says his longevity stems from a simple diet of fish and chips, according to the Daily Mail.

What happened

Born in 1919, Filer served with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and the Military Police during World War II. As he approaches his 107th birthday, he was honoured on Friday at the Market Hall Cinema in Brynmawr with a commemorative statuette from SSAFA, the armed‑forces charity, and a celebration attended by family, friends and fellow veterans.

What the reports add

The Daily Mail notes that Filer’s daughter, Anne Messore, 80, accompanied him to the event at the Tredegar Veterans Support Hub. He has ten grandchildren and fifteen great‑grandchildren. The article also records that he chose a screening of the film “One Good Turn” for the celebration and received a red‑carpet welcome.

What was said

Filer told the outlet, “There is no secret, you just live properly, and I’ve always done it. I never overeaten… I lived on fish and chips – a full meal, a scoop full of chips and a fish, cod and hake, it was genuine.” He added, “I thought it would be a better world I would be living in, but I didn’t think I’d ever make it.” Fellow veteran Darren Foote said, “He doesn’t understand why they make a fuss of him… He’s just a really nice, down‑to‑earth guy. He still gets up in the morning, puts a clean shirt on, puts his tie on, cleans his shoes, and gets up with purpose.”

How it came about

Filer’s story follows recent coverage of Wales’ culinary culture, including a Felo News piece on the challenges facing fish‑and‑chip shops (Fish and Chip Shops Face Rising Costs and Changing Tastes). His veteran status also links to earlier reporting on SSAFA’s support for ex‑service personnel.

Key facts

Owen Filer, believed to be Wales' oldest man, is nearing his 107th birthday. (dailymail.co.uk)
He attributes his long life to a lifelong diet of fish and chips. (dailymail.co.uk)
Filer was presented with a commemorative SSAFA statuette at a celebration in Brynmawr. (dailymail.co.uk)
He served in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and Military Police during WWII. (dailymail.co.uk)
He has four children, ten grandchildren and fifteen great‑grandchildren. (dailymail.co.uk)