When someone reaches an impressive age, everyone is curious about their secret.
Although it’s usually linked to a unique diet or a trendy drink promoted in the media, 116-year-old Ethel Caterham has a different secret.
She believes it has contributed to her status as the world’s oldest woman.
Born in 1909
At 116 years of age, Ethel Caterham has officially been recognized as the oldest living person globally — a title validated by Guinness World Records and LongeviQuest, the worldwide database that tracks supercentenarians.
However, her story is much more than just a number. Ethel has experienced history firsthand: the sinking of the Titanic, two World Wars, the first moon landing, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the emergence of the internet, iPhone, and TikTok.
Born on August 21, 1909, in Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire, Ethel was raised in Tidworth, Wiltshire, as the second youngest of eight siblings.
Interestingly, longevity seems to run in her family: one of her sisters, Gladys, lived to be 104.
By the age of 18, Ethel had already embarked on an extraordinary journey, serving as an au pair for a military family in British India.
Ethel remembered being attended to by household staff and experiencing a mix of British and Indian customs, from Christmas festivities to savoring Tiffin and Tea. She dedicated four years to working as a nanny in both India and the UK before meeting her future husband, Norman Caterham, a British Army major, at a dinner gathering in 1931.
The couple tied the knot in 1933 at Salisbury Cathedral, where Norman had previously been a choirboy. He eventually advanced to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Royal Army Pay Corps. Initially, they resided in Harnham near Salisbury before their assignments took them to Hong Kong and Gibraltar. While in Hong Kong, Ethel established a nursery for local and British children, where she taught English, games, and crafts.
In Gibraltar, the couple began their family and later returned to Surrey, where they raised two daughters, Gem and Anne. Norman passed away in 1976.
A life filled with milestones — and surprises
Ethel has faced remarkable challenges. In 2020, at the age of 110, she contracted Covid-19 — a virus particularly perilous for the elderly — and made a complete recovery.
What’s her secret to such a long life?
“Never arguing with anyone. I listen and I do what I like,” she shared with the BBC. Simple yet profound advice from someone who has truly mastered the art of living.
A historic record
Ethel’s remarkable longevity has not gone unnoticed. She became the oldest living person in the United Kingdom in 2022 and, following the passing of Brazil’s Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas in April 2025, she became the world’s oldest verified person.
On her 115th birthday, King Charles III sent her a congratulatory letter, commending her “truly remarkable milestone” and extending his “warmest good wishes.” By her 116th birthday in August 2025, she had even exchanged friendly words with the king in person, reminiscing about his investiture in 1969.
On 21 August 2025, she celebrated her 116th birthday, becoming the first British person ever to reach that age.
Ethel continued to drive until she reached the age of 97, played contract bridge well into her centenarian years, and maintained her fierce independence. She initially lived with her daughters before relocating to a care facility in Surrey following the death of her younger daughter, Anne, in 2020.
Her care home celebrated her remarkable achievement
“Your strength, spirit, and wisdom inspire us all. Here’s to honoring your extraordinary journey.”
Ethel Caterham is not just a record holder — she embodies a life well-lived, brimming with resilience, joy, and the ability to embrace both the highs and lows. Share this article on Facebook to honor this incredible woman!
