LONDON — Ethel Caterham, a 115-year-old British woman residing in Surrey, has been officially recognized as the world’s oldest living person following the death of Brazilian nun Sister Inah Canabarro this week.
Caterham, born on Aug. 21, 1909, in the quiet village of Shipton Bellinger in southern England, shared a simple but profound secret to her longevity: avoid conflict and do what brings joy.
“Never arguing with anyone, I listen and I do what I like,” Caterham said from her nursing home in Camberley, southwest of London, in a brief but poignant reflection on the key to her remarkable lifespan.
The Gerontology Research Group (GRG), which tracks supercentenarians—people aged 110 and older—confirmed her status as the world’s oldest person following the passing of Sister Inah at age 116.
Caterham has lived through two world wars, the reigns of five British monarchs, and more than a century of global transformation. As the second youngest of eight siblings, she grew up in a rural England untouched by the technological boom that would follow in the 20th century.
At 18, Caterham embarked on an international journey that would define her early adulthood. In 1927, she traveled to India to work as a nanny for a British family stationed there, remaining in the country for three years before returning home.
She later met her future husband, Norman Caterham, a British Army major, at a dinner party in 1931. Their life together took them across the globe, including postings in Hong Kong and Gibraltar. The couple eventually settled in the United Kingdom, where they raised two daughters. Norman died in 1976.
Staff at Hallmark Lakeview Luxury Care Home in Camberley, where Caterham now resides, celebrated her milestone with a party, cake, and a special tiara marked with “115.”
“Huge congratulations to Lakeview resident, Ethel, on becoming the oldest person in the world!” read a statement posted on the facility’s Facebook page. “What an incredible milestone and a true testament to a life well-lived. Your strength, spirit, and wisdom are an inspiration to us all.”
Though Caterham is now the world’s oldest living person, the record for the oldest human ever remains with Jeanne Calment of France, who lived to 122 years and 164 days, according to Guinness World Records.
Still, Caterham’s understated philosophy and century-spanning perspective offer a timeless reminder of grace, resilience, and the enduring power of a peaceful spirit.
