London’s oldest man celebrates 108th birthday at Jewish care home
Partying with friends and family, Ben Raymond attributes longevity to ‘positive outlook’ and an occasional shot of whisky
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleCnaan Liphshiz was a Jewish World reporter at The Times of Israel
JTA — A Jewish care home in London hosted a birthday party for a resident who is the city’s oldest man.
The Jewish man just turned 108, The London-based Jewish Chronicle reported.
At the party at Nightingale House Tuesday, Ben Raymond, a retired hair dresser, celebrated with friends and family. He told a Chronicle reporter that his longevity owes to his “positive outlook” and an occasional shot of whisky, though he has recently given up drinking and smoking his pipe for health-related reasons.
Born in London’s Bermondsey district in the city’s East End, Raymond, a former member of Croydon Synagogue and later of Sutton and District Synagogue, opened a hair salon where his clients included aristocracy and film stars. Charlton Heston got his hair cut at Raymond’s salon before the filming of “Ben Hur” in 1959, Raymond told The Chronicle. He also said that Heston gave him a tip of 10 British pounds. In 1959, that sum had the buying value of about $230 today.
London's oldest man belly dances at 108th birthday party https://t.co/cdgmuAELKn pic.twitter.com/BOdTbLzRgl
— The Jewish Chronicle (@JewishChron) July 23, 2019
Raymond moved into the Jewish care home where now lives with his late wife Millie in 2012, when both were over 100. She died that year, as did their only son, Victor, at the age of 70.
Ben and Millie Raymond met through their love of dancing, he told the British-Jewish paper, and got married in 1937.
He is said to be the third oldest man in the United Kingdom.
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