Ethel Caterham, currently recognized as the world's oldest person, celebrated her 117th birthday on August 21st at her care home in Surrey. Her milestone birthday comes after a year filled with notable experiences, including a meeting with King Charles III.
Born in 1909, Caterham has lived through two World Wars, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the first Moon landings, and the fall of the Berlin Wall. She continued to drive until the age of 97 and recovered from COVID-19 in 2020. Her long life has encompassed the reigns of six British monarchs and the service of 28 Prime Ministers, from Herbert Henry Asquith to the current Prime Minister.
Caterham became the oldest living person in April 2025, following the death of Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas of Brazil. During her meeting with King Charles III in September of the previous year, shortly after her 116th birthday, she recalled his 1969 investiture as the Prince of Wales.
When asked about the secret to her longevity, Caterham has previously stated that "never arguing with anyone, I listen and I do what I like" is key. She also emphasized the importance of family and creating memories, noting that "possessions don't matter a bit in the end." She has described her approach to life as taking "everything in my stride, the highs and lows."
Born in Hampshire, Caterham was one of eight children. Her life began nine years before women in the UK were granted the right to vote. She met her husband, Norman Caterham, in 1931, and they married in 1933. He served as a lieutenant colonel in the Royal Army Pay Corps, and the couple lived in various locations, including Hong Kong and Gibraltar, where they raised their two daughters. Mrs. Caterham has resided in Surrey for over five decades. Her husband passed away in 1976, and both of her daughters have since died.
Caterham's life experiences also include witnessing seismic global events such as the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and the first human steps on the Moon. The fall of the Berlin Wall occurred when she was 80 years old.
She is considered the fourth British person to hold the title of the world's oldest person. Previous British holders include Anna Eliza Williams, Alice Stevenson, and Ada Roe.
