The oldest living person in Europe, Ethel Caterham, is celebrating her 115th birthday today at the nursing home Surrey Heath, England.
Caterham was born in Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire, England, on 21 August 1909, and grew up in Tidworth, Wiltshire. In 1927, at the age of 18, she gained employment as a nanny to a British family living in India, and travelled independently for three weeks via ship to start work. She worked there for three years before returning to England.
In 1931, Caterham met her future husband Norman, a major in the British Army, at a dinner party. The couple were married in Salisbury Cathedral, where Norman was a choirboy, and they lived together in Harnham before they were stationed in Hong Kong and Gibraltar.
(Photo published by her care home.)
While living in Hong Kong, Caterham started a nursery for local and British children where she taught English, games, and crafts. While in Gibraltar, she and her husband started their family, eventually raising two girls back in the UK. She was widowed in 1976.
Caterham became the oldest known living person in the United Kingdom following the 22 January 2022 death of 112-year-old Mollie Walker.
At the moment, she is the fourth-oldest living person in the world. Two days ago, she became the oldest living person in Europe, following the passing of María Branyas Morera of Spain on August 19th.
Caterham is the third person in the United Kingdom to reach the age of 115, and the first to do so in nearly 25 years, the last being Annie Jennings in November 1999.
(Photo published by her care home.)
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Mrs. Caterham on her 115th birthday.
