A new homeowner has collected his keys and become Britain’s oldest first-time buyer – aged 86.
Pensioner Edward Simon Jones just got his first pad – a £147,000 bungalow in Flintshire, Wales.
Edward, known better as Simon, spent his whole life living on his family’s farm before moving into assisted care facility Marleyfield House, where he has spent the past year.
But he has always wanted to have his own home – and bought the bungalow so he could spend the last years of his life in his own surroundings.
Simon said: “I’m so excited to finally have a place of my own, I loved it at Marleyfield but I want to spend the remaining years I have in my own home.
“It’s been a long time coming but it’s certainly worth the wait.”
Simon’s niece, Lynne Palin, said he is delighted to finally have the keys to his own home – and thought having solar panels on the bungalow would give him free electricity.
She said: “His solicitor joked that he must be the oldest person in Wales to buy their first home.
“He lived on the Bychton Hall family farm in Mostyn for all his life, before moving in to Marleyfield.
“At Marleyfield he was known as being a real character, and a bit of a lady’s man – so no doubt he’ll be missed there.
“The home’s cat, Mikey, even slept on his bed every night.
“But Simon’s always maintained that he wants to spend the last years of his life in his own place, and he’s absolutely delighted to have the keys to his new bungalow.
“He has solar panels on the roof of the bungalow, and he thought that means he’ll be getting free electricity.”
