Ethel Caterham, the oldest British person in history and a resident of Surrey, England, has become the world’s oldest living person as of today, 30 April. At the age of 115 years, 252 days, she succeeds Inah Canabarro Lucas, who passed away today in Porto Alegre, Brazil, at the age of 116.
Early Life
Ethel Caterham was born on 21 August 1909 in Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire, England. She was the second youngest of eight children born to parents Alfred Collins (1868–1927) and Fanny Shears (1868–1951). She was raised in Tidworth, Wiltshire. Her eldest brother Norman was killed in 1915 during WWI, whereas her eldest sister, Gladys Babilas (21 December 1897 – 9 March 2002), lived to be 104 years, 78 days old.
At 18, Ethel took her first job as a nanny for a British family in India. Driven by a sense of adventure, she made the three-week voyage alone by ship in 1927. She later recalled her time in India fondly, describing a life where they were served by household staff and embraced both British traditions—like Christmas—and Indian customs such as Tiffin and Tea. Over four years, she worked as a nanny in both India and the UK.
In November 2024, aged 115. (Source: Facebook)
In 1931, she met her future husband, Major Norman Caterham of the British Army, at a dinner party. They married in 1933 at Salisbury Cathedral, where Norman had once been a choirboy. Norman rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Royal Army Pay Corps, and the couple lived in Harnham before postings in Hong Kong and Gibraltar. While in Hong Kong, Ethel established a nursery for local and British children, teaching English, crafts, and games. Their two daughters, Gem and Anne, were born after the family settled back in Surrey.
Later Life
Widowed on 25 August 1976, Ethel inherited her husband’s Triumph Dolomite and continued driving it until she was 97. She remained active well into old age, playing bridge regularly as a centenarian. Sadly, Ethel has outlived both of daughters, Ethel (known as Gem) died in 2005 aged 71 whilst Ann lived until 2020, passing away from cancer aged 83.
Active and fiercely independent in her centenarian years, Ethel lived with Ann in an annex of her house. However, at the age of 110, she moved to a care home shortly after Ann’s death. Becoming a supercentenarian and moving to a care home didn’t slow Ethel down. Later in 2020, she contracted and successfully recovered from Covid-19, making her one of the oldest known survivors of the disease.
Today, at the age of 115, Ethel remains in good health. Her favourite pass-time is sitting quietly in her garden (aptly named Ethel’s garden in her honour) in the sunshine listening to birds, or sitting quietly relaxing in her room listening to classical music.
Longevity Records
Caterham became the oldest living person in the United Kingdom following the death of 112-year-old Mollie Walker on 22 January 2022.
On 19 August 2024, after the passing of 117-year-old María Branyas Morera, she became the oldest living person in Europe.
Then, on 7 April 2025, at the age of 115 years and 229 days, she surpassed the final age of Charlotte Hughes (1877–1993), becoming the oldest Briton in recorded history—a record that remained unbroken for 32 years..
Following the recent deaths of Japan’s Okagi Hayashi on 26 April and Brazil’s Inah Canabarro Lucas on 30 April, Caterham is now the only person still alive who was born in the 1900s. She is also the last British person born before 1913 and the last living subject of Edward VII.
(Courtesy of the care home)
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Mrs. Ethel Caterham and her family on this remarkable milestone. Becoming the world’s oldest living person is an extraordinary testament to her resilience, longevity, and the legacy she continues to inspire.
