109-year-old Leamington man - who is one of the world's oldest men - has been selected to be a baton bearer for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
A Leamington care home resident who is one of the world’s oldest men has been chosen to be a baton bearer for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
One hundred and nine-year-old John Farringdon, who lives at Cubbington Mill Care Home was 17 years old when the first Commonwealth Games was held in 1930.
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Hide AdJohn, his fellow residents and staff at the care home are buzzing after hearing the news and on John receiving his official Birmingham 2022 Baton Bearer uniform.
A spokeswoman for the care home has said: “We think he’s absolutely amazing and couldn’t be more proud of him and will be cheering him along every step of his relay leg.
"He’s a star.”
John is expected to carry the baton on the Kenilworth leg of the Queen’s Baton Relay, which marks the start of the games – an international multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations.
Leamington will host the bowls and parabowls competitions for the event while Warwick will host part of the cycling races.
John was born in Enfield in 1913.
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Hide AdAged 16 he got a job in Upper Thames Street, London, as an apprentice repairing typewriters.
He travelled all over London repairing typewriters before getting a job at Ford in Dagenham in 1934 as a typewriter mechanic.
In 1942, Ford offered John a job in Leamington making tank tracker assistance for the army, so he moved to the town and continued to work at Ford Motor Company for 40 years before coming to Cubbington Mill.