The world’s oldest living person, Ethel Caterham, turns 117 today. She celebrated her birthday party at her care home in Lightwater, Surrey, surrounded by family and friends.
Ethel Caterham was born on August 21, 1909, in Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire, approximately five years before the start of World War I. In April 2025, she was titled the world’s oldest person after the death of Brazilian nun Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas at age 116.
At 117 years old, Caterham claims she has had “many firsts” in life in the past year, including petting a llama and even holding the hand of King Charles III. This visit was just after her 116th birthday last September. During this meeting, she brought back memories of when he became Prince of Wales in 1969, when she reminded him that “all the girls loved you.”
Sharing her secret about longevity, she said: “Never arguing with anyone, I listen, and I do what I like.” She also attributed moderation, saying she “enjoyed everything in life but in moderation.”
She got married to Lieutenant Colonel Norman Caterham of the British Army in 1931, and the couple settled in Gibraltar and Hong Kong, where she founded a nursery school. She bore two daughters who predeceased her.
She learned how to drive at the age of 67 years after the death of her husband in 1976, and kept on driving until the age of 97 years. She also beat the coronavirus in 2020 at 110 years old.
Her sister Gladys also attained the age of 104 years. The oldest living person title still holds Jeanne Calment of France, who attained the age of 122 years and 164 days.
2026-08-21 18:24:00
