Is this the world's oldest man with Down's Syndrome? Joe was not expected to live past 21 - but has just celebrated his 80th birthday

• Joe Sanderson was born in 1936 and not expected to reach adulthood
• Avid horse racing and Hull FC fan turned 80 in a care home in Saltburn
• He is four years older than official world record holder Kenny Cridge, 76 
• Care home contacted Guinness Records but told disability records stopped

By Kate Pickles For Mailonline

Published: 11:16 GMT, 21 March 2016

He might not have a certificate to prove it, but Joe Sanderson believes he could be the world's oldest living man with Down's syndrome.

Doctors told his mother Anna that he would not live past 21 - with the typical life expectancy far shorter in the 1930s than today.

But Mr Sanderson turned 80 on Saturday and celebrated his birthday with family and staff at Hazelgrove Court Care Home in Saltburn, Cleveland.

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

Joe Sanderson, pictured here with carer Michelle Hopkins at his care home in Saltburn, is thought to be the oldest man in the world living with Down's Syndrome

Mr Sanderson, far left, was 19 when pictured at his sister's wedding in 1955, more than 40 years ago

Mr Cridge was officially named the world's oldest living man with Down's by Guinness World Records officials in 2008.

This led to home manager, Tina Temple, calling the Guinness World Records last week to tell them about Mr Sanderson - who is almost four years his senior.

But she was told they had stopped doing the record because it is a disability, she said.

Paying tribute to Mr Sanderson, she explained how he loves horse racing, colouring in and doing jigsaws. 

'He also loves meeting people and will always shake your hand. He's a proper gent in that respect and all the staff love him,' she said. 

'He likes a routine and will always change the date over in his calendar every morning without fail.

'He's just so loveable and he's always smiling. All the residents look after him and think he's lovely.

'If he's in his wheelchair and going past the nurse that hands out the medication he'll slap her bottom and she will laugh because she knows it's a joke.

The Hull FC fan celebrated his 80th birthday with a 'Tigers' birthday cake on Saturday. He celebrated the milestone with family and friends

Mr Sanderson pictured with his many 80th birthday cards following his birthday on Saturday

'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. 

'Because of this we decided to get him a commemorative magazine of the Royal Wedding, which he watched on television.

We think it is marvellous that Joe is the oldest in the whole world. I think the secret to his long life has been good care

Susan Paterson, niece, 57 

'He's also always reading the betting pages and he likes to have a bet on the Grand National and a few other races occasionally but he's never won anything massive.' 

Record holder or not, Mr Sanderson's home was determined to throw one of their most popular residents a party to remember. 

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

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,' said his niece Susan Paterson, 57. 

'His older sister Angela had to go find him, but always knew where he'd be - the bus 

drivers all knew him.'

Mr Sanderson from Saltburn who is believed to be the world's oldest man living with Down's syndrome. Here he is pictured with his niece Susan Paterson (middle) and great niece Sarah Paterson

Joe Sanderson turned 80 on Saturday and celebrated his birthday with family and staff at a care home in Saltburn, North Yorkshire. This makes him one of the world's oldest living people with Down's Syndrome