Man, 100, says coronavirus is worse than world wars, Great Depression

After living through a world war and The Great Depression, Owen Filer has some wise words on how to get through the pandemic.

2 min read

May 13, 2020 - 8:58PM

He’s lived through a world war and The Great Depression.

And now, as he approaches his 101st birthday, Owen Filer has some wise words for the world’s population on how to live through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr Filer, who lives in the Welsh town of Cwmbran, first came to public attention earlier this year when he approached ITV News’ correspondent Rob Osborne in January and was mistaken for a 70-year-old.

“A man approached me and my cameraman as we were filming,” Mr Osborne recalled.

“Our story was about how Newport had changed. The man looked older, maybe in his 70s. Ideal for some historic perspective.

“‘I’ve been here all my life, I’m 100 years old’ he tells me. I think not. ‘What year were you born?’ I ask, trying to catch him out. ‘19/10/19 – ask my mother, she was there’.”

100-year-old Owen Filer's interview has gone viral. Picture: Supplied

The crew caught up with Mr Filer, a father of four “pensioners”, recently to ask his thoughts on the current situation – and he didn’t mince his words.

“This is worse than war,” he said, when asked how the global coronavirus pandemic compared to World War I and World War II and The Great Depression, adding it was “unseen”.

He then called the leaders guiding their nations through the crisis “rubbish”.

“We want somebody like Churchill don’t we, somebody solid. Somebody really solid to get hold of the reins and steer us the right way because we’re certainly not going the right way, are we?”

Mr Filer said he missed most “being able to go out and do what we should be doing”.

“I’m going for a walk along the river bank – or I can go on my scooter – but it’s better to walk, legs are for walking aren’t they?” he said.

What an absolute hero Owen is. pic.twitter.com/F11u6fcJ7j
— Lewis Wright (@lewis_wrighty) May 12, 2020

Economists are predicting the global decline due to the COVID-19 outbreak to be the worst since the worldwide economic depression of the 1930s – which Mr Filer lived through.

“We had nothing at all,” he recalled of the period, which was the longest, deepest and most widespread depression of the 20th century.

“My sister and me went to bed hungry asking for a sandwich. My mum would say ‘there’s bread in the pantry but if you have some now, you won’t have it for your breakfast in the morning and that’s the end of that’.”

But, Mr Filer said, it’s not all bad, with one positive takeaway from the current situation: the sense of community.

“We won’t forget this. I’ve had people say to me – ‘do you want anything Mr Filer? I’ll do your shopping for you’. I’ve never heard that before but at least they are there now.

“They’ve suddenly remembered – we’ve all got to help one another. I’ve had several offers, but none of marriage!”