Alf Powell has been the city’s oldest resident for years. 

But the great-great-granddad is now also the number one bloke on the gerontology list, although he’s actually ranked number 11, just outside the top 10 oldest Aussies – all of them women.

Mr Powell, a Bupa resident and proud dad of former longtime Lifeline co-ordinator Judith Archbold, has been feted as the longest living Tamworth bloke for a few years.

But after the death of Alfred Date at 110 on the Central Coast in May, our man has moved to top spot.

Mr Powell – equal parts cheeky and charming, but every part the gentleman – has no plans of being bumped from the top spot any time soon. 

The Tamworth man shared his milestone 108^th birthday with his daughter and friends at Bupa with a giant sponge cake to kick off happy hour. 

“It feels very old,” Mr Powell said. 

“You never really plan on turning 108. 

“That is a privilege.”

Mr Powell has one daughter, four grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. 

It’s a feat admired by no person more than his daughter Judith.

“He’s always been the voice of reason,” she told The Leader. 

“He’s a very grounded person, I think that’s the thing. 

“He’s very much the family patriarch.”

Mr Powell has logged a long list of impressive accomplishments in his life. 

He made a successful career working with media production and publishing distribution companies, before retiring what he now describes as a couple years too early. 

Mr Powell speaks plainly and humbly of his achievement. He offers no explanation of how one can simply achieve a long life – he says everyone can rest easy knowing that there is no real method to follow.

Over the years, he’s told The Leader that if he knew the secret to longevity, he would have bottled it and become a millionaire.