[5][6] Fauja Singh claims to have been born in Beas Pind, Jalandhar, Punjab, British India on 1 April 1911,[5] the youngest of four children.

It was only after witnessing the death of his fifth son, Kuldip, in a construction accident in August 1994, that Singh returned to his passion for running, in 1995.

The death of his wife in 1992, and his eldest daughter who had died from complications after giving birth to his third granddaughter, gave him the determination for this new focus in life.

[5] That same year, in 2004, he was featured in an advertising campaign for sportswear manufacturer Adidas alongside David Beckham and Muhammad Ali.

[18] As it took him over 14 minutes after the gun to cross the starting line, the official time submitted, and declined, for the age group record was 8:25:17.

[19] His biography, titled Turbaned Tornado, was formally released in the Attlee Room of Britain's House of Lords on 7 July 2011 by Lord Anthony Young of Norwood Green and retired British Crown Court judge Sir Mota Singh.

[citation needed] After taking part in the Hong Kong marathon on 24 February 2013, five weeks shy of his 102nd birthday,[2] Singh stated that he would retire from competitive running.

I go to bed early taking the name of my Rabba (God) as I don't want all those negative thoughts crossing my mind.

[26] However, the party was criticized by Sikhs in the City for the "misuse of Fauja Singh for political purposes", and for having "abused the vulnerability of an old man for its own ends".

William Fugazy, the chairman of the coalition, said Singh is a symbol of racial tolerance, and his running helps bridge the gap created by the 11 September terrorist attacks.

[31] Singh was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the 2015 New Year Honours for services to sport and charity.