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Oct 2024
Harrogate man celebrates 108th birthday
A Harrogate centenarian celebrated an incredible milestone today (October 1) when he turned 108 years old.
John Shannon, who lives at Hampden House nursing home on Duchy Road, is the fifth oldest man in Britain.
The Stray Ferret was invited to join in the celebrations with John's friends and family.
Guests enjoyed cake and champagne while daughter Eileen Pearson, 79, read moments from his memoir.
John said he was feeling “ok" about turning 108 "but a little flat after a big weekend. It was very tiring but very good".
His large family, which hails from all over the UK, Australia, Lithuania, and France, travelled to mark the occasion with him.
He said reaching 108 “doesn’t feel any different", and added that “very few people feel their age - I have never felt it".
He said:
I have never felt like it is a great achievement, you just get older and less efficient but that’s a natural part of life. I do feel sadly for people who have had short lives.
Eileen, John and his son-in-law
John was born in Barking on October 1, 1916, and attended the local Abbey Grammar School.
He then studied at Winchester College, now Winchester University, where he later became a fellow.
Mr Shannon began volunteering at the age of 17 and only stopped just six years ago, aged 102.
Over the decades, he has taken on many voluntary roles. First, with the League of Nations Union and later setting up a prison visiting scheme while at college.
He later ran a boxing club and coached football prior to the outbreak of World War Two.
He has devoted countless hours to organisations such as the British Red Cross and the English Football Association. He also took an active role in the girl guide movement by becoming the local badge tester.
In 2017 he received a Diamond Pin Volunteering Badge at the the Royal Voluntary Service’s Diamond Champions Awards.
He was awarded the badge by the now Queen Camilla. While receiving his badge, she asked how he kept himself so young.
He replied: “By having a good wife.” Camilla’s reply was: “I shall have to tell Charles.”
John has lived in Harrogate for over 30 years. He was in Birstwith prior to moving to Hampden House.
He has also been involved with the Harrogate Easier Living Project, Age UK and telephone befriending.
He said his family and school encouraged him to volunteer and he now holds five national awards for his service. He said that he found volunteering “was just a natural thing to do".
He added:
I’ve met hundreds of interesting people, and I’ve lived a very simple life with a lot of good jobs.
John Shannon
One of these jobs was commanding war ships and it is believed that John is the only living naval person who served from day one of the Second World War through to VJ Day and was not officially demobbed until October 1945.
To mark the occasion, he today donned the tie he wore the very first time he stepped onto a ship.
He told the Stray Ferret his advice for living a long life is to “have a good wife".
He added:
I believe if you have a very good wife life is good, and things will go well. That was what I was lucky enough to have.
Party guests
He revealed that his only regret in life was not proposing to his late wife, Eileen, properly. The young couple simply went ring shopping rather than a traditional proposal.
John said that his one piece of advice to the younger generation would be to
Get busy, work hard, and expect less.
Joanna Graczyk-Wozniak, social engagement lead at Hampden House, said:
John is an inspiration to everyone here - his positivity and spirit are infectious. We’re thrilled to celebrate this amazing milestone with him and recognise all the wonderful things he’s done for our community.
John Shannon cutting the cake and with his birthday gift, a book full of birthday messages
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