Stanley Lucas
Encyclopedia
Stanley Lucas from Bude
, Cornwall
was a British
supercentenarian
, he was the oldest living man verified in Europe since the death of Harry Patch
on 25 July 2009. He was also the third-oldest man in the world. Lucas was born at Morwenstow
and had two brothers and two sisters.
In 1908 the family moved to Marhamchurch
, where he lived until 1948. He left school at 14 and was later called up for service in both the First and Second World Wars. However, Lucas did not serve due to a pre-diagnosed heart condition. Instead, Lucas helped on the family farm during the First World War. Lucas married Ivy Nancekivell in 1926 and took over the family farm. Lucas was a breeder of Devon cattle and Devon longwool sheep and started a dairy farm in the early 1940s. In 1948 he relocated to live with his family at Poughill
, where he continued to live after Ivy's death in 1963. In 1950, Lucas started playing bowls
, which he continued to play until 2000, aged 100.
Lucas was a member of Bude Town Council from 1959–70, as well as vice chairman. His daughter said "He has worked hard in his working life and was a teetotaller and non-smoker and since he has been elderly has been well cared for". Lucas was the last living British male born during both the 19th century and the Victorian era
.
Lucas was the only verified male supercentenarian who died in 2010.
Bude
Bude is a small seaside resort town in North Cornwall, England, at the mouth of the River Neet . It lies just south of Flexbury, north of Widemouth Bay and west of Stratton and is located along the A3073 road off the A39. Bude is twinned with Ergué-Gabéric in Brittany, France...
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
supercentenarian
Supercentenarian
A supercentenarian is someone who has reached the age of 110 years. This age is achieved by about one in a thousand centenarians....
, he was the oldest living man verified in Europe since the death of Harry Patch
Harry Patch
Henry John "Harry" Patch , known in his latter years as "the Last Fighting Tommy", was a British supercentenarian, briefly the oldest man in Europe, and the last surviving soldier to have fought in the trenches of the First World War...
on 25 July 2009. He was also the third-oldest man in the world. Lucas was born at Morwenstow
Morwenstow
thumb|Parish Church of St Morwenna and St John the Baptist, MorwenstowMorwenstow is a civil parish and hamlet in north Cornwall, United Kingdom. The hamlet is situated near the coast approximately six miles north of Bude....
and had two brothers and two sisters.
In 1908 the family moved to Marhamchurch
Marhamchurch
Marhamchurch is a civil parish and village in north Cornwall, United Kingdom.Marhamchurch village is situated 1½ miles south of Bude off the A39 road.-History:...
, where he lived until 1948. He left school at 14 and was later called up for service in both the First and Second World Wars. However, Lucas did not serve due to a pre-diagnosed heart condition. Instead, Lucas helped on the family farm during the First World War. Lucas married Ivy Nancekivell in 1926 and took over the family farm. Lucas was a breeder of Devon cattle and Devon longwool sheep and started a dairy farm in the early 1940s. In 1948 he relocated to live with his family at Poughill
Poughill
Poughill is a hamlet in north-east Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is located one mile north of Bude .-History and notable buildings:Poughill is mentioned in the Domesday Book as Pochelle. Notable old houses in Poughill include Burshill Manor , an open hall house, and Church House, dated 1525.The...
, where he continued to live after Ivy's death in 1963. In 1950, Lucas started playing bowls
Bowls
Bowls is a sport in which the objective is to roll slightly asymmetric balls so that they stop close to a smaller "jack" or "kitty". It is played on a pitch which may be flat or convex or uneven...
, which he continued to play until 2000, aged 100.
Lucas was a member of Bude Town Council from 1959–70, as well as vice chairman. His daughter said "He has worked hard in his working life and was a teetotaller and non-smoker and since he has been elderly has been well cared for". Lucas was the last living British male born during both the 19th century and the Victorian era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
.
Lucas was the only verified male supercentenarian who died in 2010.
See also
- List of verified supercentenarians who died in 2010
- List of European supercentenarians
- List of the verified oldest men
- List of British supercentenarians
- LongevityLongevityThe word "longevity" is sometimes used as a synonym for "life expectancy" in demography or known as "long life", especially when it concerns someone or something lasting longer than expected ....
- SupercentenarianSupercentenarianA supercentenarian is someone who has reached the age of 110 years. This age is achieved by about one in a thousand centenarians....