Since turning 100 in 2012, he had received an annual birthday card from the monarch – first from the late Queen Elizabeth II, who was his junior by almost 14 years, and, more recently, from King Charles III.
The family added: “We would like to thank the many people in the UK and across the world who sent well wishes to John on his recent birthdays.
“He really appreciated these birthday greetings and other messages of support.”
“John always liked to say thank you. So on his behalf , [we] thank all those who cared for him over the years, including his carers at the Hollies care home, his GPs, district nurses, occupational therapist and other NHS staff.”
The family have requested any donations in his memory be made to Age UK, or to a charity of their own choice.
The oldest living man on record was Jiroemon Kimura, from Japan, who lived to the age of 116 years and 54 days. He died in 2013.
The world’s oldest living woman, and oldest living person, is Japan’s Tomiko Itooka, who is currently 116.
