Last week saw news of the 100th birthday celebration of World War II veteran Jack Miles, who lived in Merton for 40 years and is still president of the Wimbledon Common Golf Club.

A member for 65 years, he still plays a four-hole round every Wednesday.

Not that long ago this would have been most unlikely.

Just how significantly local life-spans have changed can be seen from a report in the Wimbledon News and District Advertiser on Saturday 30th March 1895.

Headlined Death of an old Resident, this said: “The death occurred… on Wednesday morning of Mrs Lucas at the age of 75.

"She was one of the oldest residents of Wimbledon, occupying a house in Merton Road until she moved to Fulham last August.”

Half a century earlier the 1841 census had shown there were no more than 50 people in Wimbledon older than 70, although one man, William Griffen of the Crooked Billet, was still going at 94.

Most people died well under the age of 80. A notable exception was baker William Mason of Holly Cottage, Wimbledon Common, who celebrated 65 years of marriage to his wife Sophia and survived until 1891 aged 83.

Very few fellow Wimbledonians could match his achievement.

Of course, many more people are living much longer these days. National statistics show there were no fewer than 11,700 centenarians in Britain in 2011.

But every rule has its exception.

Back in 1775, Francis Trevor, Wimbledon’s first known centenarian, died when the total local population numbered little more than 500 rather than the tens of thousands here today.

Then again, there were no local golf courses in his day so he could never have matched Jack Miles’ handicap.

The Wimbledon Society is working with the Wimbledon Guardian to ensure that you, the readers, can share the fascinating discoveries that continue to emerge about our local heritage.

For more information, visit wimbledonsociety.org.uk and www.wimbledonmuseum.org.uk.

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