On top of the world!

Primark gets a new look as part of firm’s £100m spend

AMUM who heard that the oldest man in the world lives in Southport decided to bake him a bespoke cake to celebrate the incredible milestone.

Lynsay Smith, 39, from Aigburth, is a teacher but also has a cake-making business - Sugar Smith - that she does from home.

She bakes bespoke cakes by hand, which can take up to two days, for a low price so they are easier to buy for people on a budget.

In 2023, Lynsay baked a cake for John Tinniswood, who at the time was the UK’s oldest man at 111 years old.

And earlier this month John was officially crowned the oldest man in the world, at 111 years and 222 days old, following the death of the Venezuelan record-holder, Juan Vicente Pérez Mora, who died weeks before his 115th birthday.

John’s care home confirmed the news in a Facebook post and Guinness World Records delivered a framed certificate to John, celebrating his record age.

John, who was born in 1912, the same year the Titanic sank and two years before the start of World War One, married his wife Blodwen in 1942 and they welcomed their only child, Susan, in 1943 before spending 44 happy years together until Blodwen died in 1986.

Due to his love of fish and chips, with his favourite chippy being The Swan in Southport, Lynsay knew she had to incorporate it in her cake design.

Lynsay headed to The Hollies Rest Home in Southport to present John with a cake featuring him eating fish and chips, sitting on top of the world.

When we asked John what his secret to a long and happy life was, he said: “Do everything in moderation. Eat, drink and exercise in moderation. Because if you turn your wheels too much, they’re going to break.”

Since it is John’s birthday on August 16, Lynsay plans to bring John another cake for his 112th birthday later this year.

THE Primark store in Southport has been given a new look as part of a £100m investment.

The Southport store has been revamped as part of Primark’s investment in its UK store estate, as it celebrates 50 years on the Great British High Street this year.

The store features improved decor, updated fixtures and fittings including product display rails and display units to better showcase the products. Customers will also spot new signage, bringing the store in line with Primark’s latest store design.

A key change for customers is the introduction of self-service checkouts.

Primark Southport opened its doors in 2006 and covers 21,000 sq ft of retail space.

The store is also part of Primark’s Click and Collect trial, which will continue to be offered to customers from the designated desks in store.

On April 10 Primark Southport hosted free clothing repair workshops, which give customers the chance to learn basic sewing and mending skills so they can love their clothes for longer.

More than 100 workshops have been run by Primark across Europe to date, helping to revamp their clothing.