When someone reaches an extraordinary age, people naturally want to know the secret behind their longevity. Most often, the answers revolve around the latest superfoods, trendy drinks, or unusual wellness routines hyped in the media. But for 116-year-old Ethel Caterham, her secret is much simpler—and, perhaps, far more profound.
A Witness to History
Born on August 21, 1909, in Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire, Ethel Caterham has officially become the world’s oldest living person, a record confirmed by Guinness World Records and LongeviQuest, the authoritative global database of supercentenarians. Yet her story is far more than a number or a title—it is a living window into more than a century of human history.
Ethel’s life spans some of the most remarkable events in modern memory: the sinking of the Titanic, two devastating World Wars, the first moon landing, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the digital revolution including smartphones, social media, and TikTok. She has seen entire empires rise and fall, watched fashion, technology, and society evolve in unimaginable ways, and lived through both the darkest and brightest moments of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Ethel grew up in Tidworth, Wiltshire, the second youngest of eight children. Longevity seems to run in her family; one of her sisters, Gladys, lived to 104. From a young age, Ethel showed curiosity, resilience, and a readiness for adventure—qualities that would serve her well for decades to come.
Early Adventures Abroad
By 18, Ethel had already embarked on a remarkable journey, working as an au pair for a military family in British India. She vividly recalled the blend of British and Indian traditions she encountered there—from Christmas celebrations to the delicate customs of Tiffin and Tea. For four formative years, she immersed herself in this cultural exchange, nurturing children and learning lessons about patience, care, and understanding that would stay with her all her life.
In 1931, at a dinner party, she met her future husband, Norman Caterham, a British Army major. They married in 1933 at Salisbury Cathedral, where Norman had once been a choirboy. Over the years, Norman advanced to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Royal Army Pay Corps, and the couple moved across the globe with his postings, including Hong Kong and Gibraltar.
In Hong Kong, Ethel founded a nursery for local and British children, teaching English, games, and crafts. In Gibraltar, she began raising her own family, eventually returning to Surrey with Norman to raise two daughters, Gem and Anne. Norman passed away in 1976, leaving Ethel to continue her life with the same grace and independence she had always maintained.
Life’s Challenges and Triumphs
Ethel Caterham has faced extraordinary challenges. Even in her later years, she demonstrated resilience and courage. In 2020, at the age of 110, she contracted COVID-19—a disease especially perilous for the elderly—and made a full recovery, much to the admiration of her family, caregivers, and the public.
Her secret to such remarkable longevity? “Never arguing with anyone. I listen and I do what I like,” she told the BBC. A deceptively simple philosophy, yet one that embodies decades of wisdom gained through experience, reflection, and a refusal to let life’s stresses dominate her spirit.
Recognition and Record
Ethel’s achievements have not gone unnoticed. She became the oldest living person in the United Kingdom in 2022 and, following the death of Brazil’s Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas in April 2025, ascended to the title of the world’s oldest verified person.
On her 115th birthday, King Charles III sent a congratulatory letter, praising her “truly remarkable milestone” and offering his “warmest good wishes.” By her 116th birthday in August 2025, she had even met the King in person, reminiscing about his investiture in 1969—a memory spanning more than half a century.
Ethel drove until the age of 97, played contract bridge well into her centenarian years, and maintained fierce independence throughout her life. After living with her daughters, she moved to a care facility in Surrey following the passing of her younger daughter, Anne, in 2020. Staff at her care home celebrated her achievements:
“Your strength, spirit, and wisdom are an inspiration to us all. Here’s to celebrating your remarkable journey.”
A Testament to Life and Resilience
Ethel Caterham is more than just a record-holder. She is a living testament to resilience, adaptability, and the quiet power of living life on your own terms. Her story reminds us that longevity is not merely about diet, exercise, or medical advances—it is about embracing life with patience, maintaining curiosity, cultivating kindness, and navigating its challenges with grace.
Her journey—from a small town in Hampshire to the recognition of the entire world—is a celebration of human endurance, family, and the small joys that accumulate over a lifetime. In honoring Ethel, we honor not only her incredible years but also the countless lives she touched, the wisdom she shared, and the legacy she continues to build.
At 116 years old, Ethel Caterham shows us that living well is an art—and that the true secrets of longevity are often the simplest: love, laughter, and the courage to live authentically.