JACK DRINKS TO 105 LAPS AROUND SUN
ON the last day of winter in 1916, the WWI Battle of Somme was under way in France.
That same day, Jack Hopwood was born in Claremont. Mr Hopwood is about one week older than the world’s first supermarket. He was born a year before John F Kennedy and Ella Fitzgerald.
The grandfather of three celebrated his 105th birthday this week with cake, a glass of wine and good company at Brick Factory, Salamanca.
“It was a really nice birthday,” he said.
The 105-year-old lives with his son Johnny Hopwood and grandson Aaron Hopwood in Claremont.
“I used to work at the zinc works, and the steel works where they made guns and that,” he said.
Aaron said his grandfather used to play cricket and said these days he enjoyed singing old songs and walking around Claremont village to socialise.
“He’s a pretty relaxed, friendly guy,” he said.
The 26-year-old said his grandfather enjoyed KFC, Monte Carlo biscuits, milo, tea and stout. When asked to guess what his grandfather’s secret to long health was, Aaron said he wasn’t sure but it was a “miracle” he was still around.