106-year-old man gives secret to long life and he eats a mug of it every day

106 year old Leslie Lemon with his Birds Custard. A WWII veteran who has just celebrated his 106th birthday has revealed the secret to his long life - custard every single day. Great-great grandfather Leslie Lemon, from Aylesbury, Bucks., favours Bird's but always has a tin of Ambrosia's ready made in the pantry for emergencies. His current favourite treat is rhubarb and custard - but is also partial to trifle and custard - and prefers his pudding cold. Photo released July 3 2025
Leslie Lemon savours his favourite treat (Picture: James Linsell Clark/SWNS)

A centenarian has put the key to a long life down to a simple combination — rhubarb and custard. 

Leslie Lemon, who turned 106 on Tuesday, attributes his good health to a daily fix of his favourite pudding.  

‘That’s my secret to a long life: custard, custard, custard; rhubarb from the garden and custard,’ he said.

‘You can’t beat it. I have it every day and I want it every day.’ 

The great-great-grandfather, from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, favours Bird’s but always has a tin of Ambrosia in the pantry for emergencies.

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He said he has no aches or pains, sleeps well and is not taking any medication or seeing a doctor.  

The World War Two veteran is free to indulge his sweet tooth after helping to see Britain through some of its darkest days.

He served in the Army throughout World War Two, signing up in 1939 and leaving as a corporal in 1946.

He was awarded the French Légion d’honneur medal in recognition of his contribution to the country’s liberation during the war. 

106 year old Leslie Lemon with his Birds Custard. A WWII veteran who has just celebrated his 106th birthday has revealed the secret to his long life - custard every single day. Great-great grandfather Leslie Lemon, from Aylesbury, Bucks., favours Bird's but always has a tin of Ambrosia's ready made in the pantry for emergencies. His current favourite treat is rhubarb and custard - but is also partial to trifle and custard - and prefers his pudding cold. Photo released July 3 2025
Leslie Lemon raises a spoon of his favourite pudding with his 106th birthday greetings in the background (Picture: James Linsell Clark / SWNS)

Born in 1919, he was the fourth of five children in Ealing, west London.

The Luton Town fan told the BBC that he had a ‘bossy sister, who taught me right from wrong’ and loved playing cricket. 

He was encouraged by his father to enlist as the war loomed, and he joined the Royal Engineers, where he found ‘comradeship’. 

‘In the trenches, we had a young lad,’ he recalled. ‘He was scared, he asked me to pray and that saw me through, looking after him.

‘We were all scared, but we took it in our stride and accepted it. We were lucky we came through it – it was touch and go at one time.’ 

The soldier was stationed at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp as the end of the war approached. 

Leslie Lemon. A WWII veteran who has just celebrated his 106th birthday has revealed the secret to his long life - custard every single day. Great-great grandfather Leslie Lemon, from Aylesbury, Bucks., favours Bird's but always has a tin of Ambrosia's ready made in the pantry for emergencies. His current favourite treat is rhubarb and custard - but is also partial to trifle and custard - and prefers his sweet treat cold.
Leslie Lemon pictured in military uniform reflecting his long Army service beginning when World War Two loomed (Picture: Lemon Family/SWNS)

‘It was terrible,’ he said. ‘The Germans left and the British soldiers took over. We helped as much as we could.’ 

He met his future wife, Doreen, while stationed in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, in 1943, and they married a year later.

She died from dementia in 1999.  

The couple had two sons, Michael and Richard, and a daughter, Mary, who died aged 10 from hepatitis contracted from polluted seawater 

‘You never get over it,’ Mr Lemon said. 

Leslie Lemon married Doreen in 1944. A WWII veteran who has just celebrated his 106th birthday has revealed the secret to his long life - custard every single day. Great-great grandfather Leslie Lemon, from Aylesbury, Bucks., favours Bird's but always has a tin of Ambrosia's ready made in the pantry for emergencies. His current favourite treat is rhubarb and custard - but is also partial to trifle and custard - and prefers his sweet treat cold.
Leslie Lemon on his wedding day with Doreen who he met while stationed in Cambridgeshire (Picture: Lemon Family/SWNS)

After being demobbed in 1946, he worked as an ‘office boy’ at the Inland Revenue in Luton, while his wife was employed at the Vauxhall car factory.  

He retired in 1979 aged 60 after his family had moved Aylesbury. 

Mr Lemon is often visited by his family, including eight grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. 

106 year old Leslie Lemon with his Legion of Honor medal. A WWII veteran who has just celebrated his 106th birthday has revealed the secret to his long life - custard every single day. Great-great grandfather Leslie Lemon, from Aylesbury, Bucks., favours Bird's but always has a tin of Ambrosia's ready made in the pantry for emergencies. His current favourite treat is rhubarb and custard - but is also partial to trifle and custard - and prefers his pudding cold. Photo released July 3 2025
World War Two veteran Leslie Lemon with his Legion of Honor medal awarded for his service to the liberation of France (Picture: James Linsell Clark/SWNS)

He plays cards, including whist, with the younger generations. 

Sixty relatives gathered for his birthday celebrations when he turned 100. 

Mr Lemon had the following advice for anyone wanting to live to a ripe old age: ‘Take things as they come and be prepared to adjust; not to be too set in your ways. I am quite happy as I am.’ 

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