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Is 80-year-old British pensioner the world’s oldest living man with Down’s syndrome?

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A “cheeky chap” who defied all medical odds could be the world’s oldest living man with Down’s syndrome after celebrating his 80th birthday.

Joe Sanderson turned the milestone age on Saturday despite doctors telling his mother Anna that he would not live past 21 – with the typical life expectancy far shorter in the 1930s than today.

His birthday follows another Down’s syndrome man, Kenny Cridge, turning 76 last month.

Mr Cridge was officially named the world’s oldest living man with Down’s by Guinness World Records officials in 2008. But there is no such record now as it is a disability.

Carer Tina Temple explained how Mr Sanderson loves horse racing, colouring in and doing jigsaws.

“He also loves meeting people and will always shake your hand. He likes a routine and will always change the date over in his calendar every morning without fail,” she said.

“He’s got an eye for the ladies and he’s cheeky.

“He loves the Queen and will shout me over if he sees a story about the Royal Family in the paper and get me to read it with him.”

The pensioner’s fondness for the Queen probably stems from her ‘saving his life’ once.

He was with his mother and his friends on a trip to London, stood in a large crowd on a hot day. Joe fainted, and as he came around the Queen passed by – so he credits her with bringing him around.

Since he was a child, Mr Sanderson made a name for himself in Saltburn, North Yorkshire, for his ‘cheeky confidence,’ his family said.

Niece Susan Paterson said that during the war he wore his gas mask and marched with the soldiers in the street, copying their drills with his toy gun.

“He used to let himself out of the house and go wind the buses up in The Square,” she said. “His older sister Angela had to go find him, but always knew where he’d be – the bus drivers all knew him.”

Last month, Kenny Cridge, from Yeovil, Somerset, celebrated his 76th birthday.

Speaking at the time, his proud niece Marie Shotton, 45, said: “Now people with Down’s Syndrome are treated equally and respected, but my nan said that back in the day it wasn’t like that.”