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Jack Reynolds
Jack Reynolds
Jack Reynolds celebrating his 105th birthday by riding a roller coaster.
Centenarian

Jack Reynolds (6 April 1912 – 25 April 2020) was a British centenarian who holds four Guinness World Records titles.

Biography

Early Life

Reynolds was born on 6 April 1912 in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. He married his wife, Kathleen, at the age of 26. The couple had four children. His fourth child, Jayne, was born about 20 years after the first. Kathleen died suddenly from a stroke when she was 68. After his wife's death, Reynolds began travelling, visiting places such as Hawaii, Utah, and Portugal.

Later Life

Reynolds worked as a railway foreman for 40 years before retiring in 1975. He built a summer house at the age of 90. He enjoyed a shot of whiskey in his tea every morning and has a couple of shots of whiskey before going to bed. He frequently used his iPad to watch football, take pictures, and keep in touch with relatives.

In his later life, Reynolds lived in Hollingwood, Derbyshire, England. In December 2019, he fractured his pelvis and was in hospital for several weeks, where he also contracted pneumonia. In March 2020, it was reported he was immobile and on end-of-life care. As he was unable to break a world record for his 108th birthday, his family asked for donations to Helen’s Trust, a charity who helped provide him with care.

Reynolds died on 25 April 2020 at the age of 108 years, 19 days. At the time of his death, he was the third-oldest living man in the United Kingdom, after Bob Weighton and Harry Fransman.

World Records

Reynolds became the oldest person to get their first tattoo on his 104th birthday. He has attempted to break a new record every birthday since, becoming the oldest person to ride a roller coaster for his 105th birthday and the oldest person to ride a zip wire for his 106th birthday. For his 107th birthday, he became the oldest person to star in a television soap opera when filmed a scene for Hollyoaks. The episode was episode 5,192, transmitted on 17 June 2019.

References

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