By Alice Walker & Rom Preston-Ellis
A mum who discovered thatthe world's oldest man resides near her home decided to bake a custom cake to commemorate his extraordinary milestone.
Lynsay Smith, 39, hailing from Aigburth, Southport, is not only a teacher but also runs a home-based cake-making venture - Sugar Smith. She crafts unique cakes by hand, which can take up to two days to produce, and sells them at a low price to make them more affordable for those on a tight budget.
In 2023, Lynsay baked a cake for John Tinniswood, who was then the UK's oldest man at 111-years-old. Then just last week John officially became the world's oldest man, aged 111 years and 222 days. His care home announced the news via a Facebook post, and Guinness World Records presented John with a framed certificate to honour his record-breaking age.
John, born in 1912, the same year as the Titanic sank, tied the knot with his wife, Blodwen, in 1942, and they welcomed their only child, Susan, in 1943. They enjoyed 44 blissful years together until Blodwen died in 1986, reports the Liverpool Echo. Given his fondness for fish and chips, particularly from The Swan in Southport, Lynsay knew she had to incorporate this into her cake design.
Lynsay made her special delivery to The Hollies Rest Home in Southport, where she surprised John with a unique cake depicting him munching on fish and chips atop the globe. When quizzed about his longevity secret, John imparted the wisdom: "Do everything in moderation. Eat, drink and exercise in moderation. Because if you turn your wheels too much, they're going to break."
With John's 112th birthday approaching on August 16, Lynsay is already gearing up to present another celebratory cake later this year.
