Owen Filer, Wales's oldest man, says fish and chips was his secret as he prepares to turn 107

Owen Filer, a Royal Welsh Fusiliers and Military Police veteran born in 1919, is preparing to celebrate his 107th birthday on Monday and insists there is "no secret" to reaching the age — except living "properly" and a lifelong diet of fish and chips. He was presented with a commemorative shield by Armed Forces charity SSAFA on Friday and surprised with a red carpet cinema screening in Brynmawr. He still rides the bus to Asda every day and is surrounded by four children, 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Filer lamented that the dish that kept him going is now beyond most people's budgets: 'You can't afford to buy it now, can it's such a change, it's crazy.'

The Cwmbran resident served with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers before joining the Military Police in the Second World War.

Fellow veteran Darren Foote said Filer 'doesn't understand why they make a fuss of him — he's just a really nice, down to earth guy.'