Born at the height of the Victorian-era and passing away at the turn of the 20th century, former miner John Evans saw a lot in his life.
During his long life, John, who was born in Fforestfach , Swansea , in 1877, lived through two world wars, six monarchs and 26 Prime Ministers throughout his long and prosperous life.
He started work down the mines at the age of 13 and worked for the next 60 years when he was forced to retire at the age of 73 by the National Coal Board. He was also a founding member of the National Union of Mineworkers in south Wales.
John married his wife Alice Horne in 1902 and they had three sons, one daughter, six grandchildren and nine great grandchildren who all lived locally and were regular visitors to his cottage in Fforestfach.
He first made in history in 1986 when he became, at the age of 108, the oldest person to be ever fitted with a pacemaker at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, and returned home just three days after the operation.
Speaking at the time, he said: "It's given me a new lease of life - and I don't have to go back to have new batteries out in for another 10 years."
Thirty years ago today, on March 28, 1989, John became the oldest person in the UK to have ever lived after beating the a record set by England's John Mosely Turner who died in 1968. He had already become the oldest person in the world in 1988 following the death of Alfred Grant.
When asked what the secret was behind his longevity, he said: "No alcohol, no tobacco, no cursing, and no gambling."
He kept to a regular routine, which started with a bowl of bran with a little honey in boiled water and he also enjoyed attending to his one-acre vegetable garden at his cottage
John enjoyed his old age with his first trip to London on his 110th birthday, and he would frequently recall his memories of William Gladstone, the Boer War and David Lloyd George.
He died on June 10, 1990, at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was 112 years and 295 days old.
At the time, John's daughter-in-law Betty Evans said: "A big gap has been left lives. The longer John was with us, the harder it was going to be to say goodbye.
"Everyone will always have such happy memories of him. He brightened up people's lives, young and old.
"John went very peacefully in his chair beside his bed. He had been a little unwell for a few days."
His son Amwel said: "My father had a very lively mind and just loved life. I'm sure that had everything to do with his remarkable health. We're all very sad - but very proud of him today."
John remained the oldest ever man in the UK until his record was beaten by Henry Allingham on March 29, 2009, but he still remains the oldest person to have been born in Wales.
