On 27 August 2025, shortly after her 116th birthday. (Source: Courtesy of our British representative Ben Hinchliffe).
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Ethel May Caterham (née Collins) is a British supercentenarian who is currently the oldest living person in the world and the oldest British person ever. She is also the last surviving person who was born in the 1900s.
EARLY LIFE
Caterham was born in Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire, England, on 21 August 1909, and grew up in Tidworth, Wiltshire. She was the second youngest of eight children born to Alfred Collins (1866-1927) and Fanny Shears (1867-1951). Her oldest brother, Norman (July 1896 – 10 August 1915), was killed, aged 19, in Gallipoli during World War I, whilst her older sister, Gladys Babilas (21 December 1897 – 9 March 2002), lived to be 104 years, 78 days old, making them the 2nd oldest sibling pair ever from the UK.
During the 1910’s, Caterham and her family lived simple lives, with no electricity or running water. They grew their own vegetables and kept chickens for eggs. In 1927, at the age of 18, she travelled to India to work as a nanny for a British family. Drawn by the allure of adventure and world travel, she made the three-week trip by ship. Reflecting on that time, she fondly recalled her experiences in India as the “amongst the happiest times of my life”. She commented that they were waited on by servants and embraced both British traditions like Christmas and Indian customs, such as Tiffin and Tea. She remained in India until 1931, when she returned to Shipton Bellinger. It was upon her return that she met her future husband, Norman Caterham, a major in the British army, at a small dinner party hosted by a school friend.
MARRIED LIFE
The Caterham’s married at Salisbury cathedral, where Norman used to be a choir boy. The couple initially lived in Harnham, near Salisbury, where they welcomed their first daughter, Ethel, in July 1933. In 1935, after Norman rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Royal Army Pay Corps, they re-located to Gibraltar where he was stationed. Whilst in Gibraltar, they welcomed their second daughter, Ann, in March 1937. The family returned to the UK in 1938, living in Surrey.
The Caterham’s re-located once again in 1957, when Norman’s career resulted in him being stationed in Hong Kong. Caterham later reflected that similar to her experiences in India, living in Hong Kong was another very happy period in her life. Whilst in Hong Kong, she established a nursery for both local and British children, where she taught English, games and crafts. Upon Norman’s retirement in 1960, the couple returned to the UK, once again settling in Surrey.
During Norman’s retirement the pair enjoyed travelling, visiting countries such as Canada, South Africa, the USA and Sri Lanka. Sadly, after 43 years of marriage, Caterham was widowed when Norman died suddenly on 25 August 1976.
LATER LIFE
After her husband passed away, Caterham, then aged 67, having inherited his Triumph Dolomite, learnt to drive, which she continued to do until the age of 97. During her widowhood, she kept busy by gardening, walking her dogs and socialising with friends. It was during this time that she became a regular bridge player, a hobby she continued into her centenarian years.
Caterham continued to live independently until past the age of 100, until around the age of 107 she moved into an Annex of her daughter Ann’s house. She outlived both of her daughters; Ethel Jr. passed away in January 2005 aged 71, whilst Ann died from cancer in February 2020, aged 82. It was after Ann’s death that she moved to a care home in spring 2020. Upon the home’s closure in November 2023, she moved once again to a care home in Lightwater, Surrey.
In 2020, at the age of 110, Caterham contracted Covid-19, during the coronavirus pandemic, however having no major symptoms, she successfully recovered, making her one of the oldest known survivors of the disease.
Since turning 111 in August 2020, Caterham’s birthday parties have become national and worldwide news. For her 111th birthday, she was interviewed by BBC Radio Surrey, whilst for her 112th she was taken to a local hotel for an afternoon tea. Her 115th and 116th birthdays, celebrations, complete with balloons, cake and professional entertaining, were held at her care home. To commemorate Ethel’s remarkable milestone of turning 115, the care home team renovated a section of the garden and renamed it “Ethel’s garden”. Since then, they have also renamed the area outside her room, where she loves to sit in the sun, “Ethel’s patio”.
At the age of 116, Ethel, who has 3 granddaughters and 5 great-grandchildren, remains in good health. She enjoys participating in the many activities organised by her care home, which have included attending a party celebrating the home’s 10th anniversary.
When asked about the keys to her longevity, she said: “Say yes to every opportunity, because you never know what it will lead to. Have a positive mental attitude and have everything in moderation”.
Caterham became the oldest known living person in the county of Surrey aged 109, following the death of fellow 109-year-old Kay Hurley on 17 January 2019. She became the oldest Surrey resident ever in August 2021 after surpassing the age of Ellen Watson.
On 29 September 2020, Caterham surpassed the age of World War I veteran Harry Patch to enter the top 100 oldest residents of the United Kingdom in history.
Caterham became the oldest living person in the United Kingdom following the 22 January 2022 death of 112-year-old Mollie Walker.
In August 2022, Caterham celebrated her 113th birthday, making her the first person in the United Kingdom to reach this age since Olive Boar in 2017. The following year, she became the first Briton since Ethel Lang in 2014 to celebrate their 114th birthday.
Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022, Caterham became one of only two people in the United Kingdom, along with two-days-younger Rose Eaton, to have been a subject of both Edward VII and Charles III. Following Eaton’s death on 7 October 2022, Caterham became the last living person in the United Kingdom to have been born in the 1900s decade and also the last surviving subject of Edward VII worldwide.
Upon the death of Frenchwoman Lucile Randon on 17 January 2023, Caterham became Europe’s second-oldest resident after María Branyas Morera of Spain. However, as Branyas Morera was born in the United States, Caterham became the oldest European-born person after Randon’s death.
Caterham’s age was verified by Stefan Maglov and validated by LongeviQuest on 31 January 2023. Her age was previously validated by the European Supercentenarian Organisation (ESO).
On 13 March 2023, upon the death of Ada Thompson, Caterham outlived every Briton born in 1910.
In July 2023, Caterham surpassed the age of Olive Boar to enter the top 10 oldest people to reside in the United Kingdom.
On 17 March 2024, at the age of 114 years, 209 days, she surpassed the final age of Anna Eliza Williams (1873–1987), becoming the fifth-oldest person ever to have lived in the UK, according to data curated by Oldest in Britain.
On 2 April 2024, following the passing of 114-year-old Juan Vicente Pérez Mora of Venezuela, she became the fifth-oldest living person in the world. On 19 August, following the passing of 117-year-old María Branyas Morera, she moved up to fourth place and became the oldest living person in Europe.
On 12 September 2024, upon the death of Mary Florence Walker, Caterham outlived every Briton born in 1911.
On 22 October 2024, following the passing of Elizabeth Francis, she moved up to third place among the world’s oldest people.
Upon the death of Mary Keir on 17 December 2024, she outlived all British people born in 1912, although Merah Smith, who was born in Jamaica in 1912, resides in the UK.
On 29 December 2024, following Tomiko Itooka‘s passing, she moved up to second place among the world’s oldest people.
On 7 April 2025, at the age of 115 years, 229 days, she surpassed the final age of Charlotte Hughes (1877–1993), becoming the oldest British person ever — breaking a record that had stood for 32 years.
On 26 April 2025, following the passing of Okagi Hayashi, she became the last surviving person born in 1909. Just a few days later, on 30 April, at the age of 115 years, 252 days, she became the World’s Oldest Living Person, following the passing of Inah Canabarro Lucas. Also, she became the last surviving person who was born in the 1900s.
On 21 August 2025, she celebrated her 116th birthday, making her the first British person to do so. Six days later, on 27 August 2025, LongeviQuest visited her to celebrate her longevity.
On 18 September 2025, she was honoured to receive a visit from King Charles III.
* All validated British supercentenarians – Oldest in Britain
* Four generations of family turn out for Ethel’s 106th birthday bash – Get Surrey, 3 September 2015
* Mayor of Surrey Heath attends a very special birthday party! – Surrey Heath, 22 August 2018
* Centenarian from Salisbury to celebrate 111th birthday – Salisbury Journal, 12 August 2020
* The secret to living past 110, according to Britain’s supercentenarians – Telegraph, 20 January 2022
* UK’s oldest woman celebrates 115th at Surrey home – Surrey Live, 22 August 2024
On her 106th birthday.
On her 109th birthday, with the Mayor of Surrey Heath. (Source: Surrey Heath)
In July 2020, aged 110. (Source: x.com/DrElliottWatson)
On her 111th birthday. (Source: Surrey News)
At the age of 112. (Source: telegraph.co.uk)
On her 113th birthday in August 2022. (Source: Facebook/So Sinatra)
On her 115th birthday in August 2024. (Photo published by her care home.)
In November 2024, aged 115. (Source: Facebook)
On Christmas Day, 2024, aged 115. (Source: Facebook)
On 27 August 2025, during LongeviQuest visit. (Source: Courtesy of our British representative Ben Hinchliffe).
On 18 September 2025, aged 116.
King Charles III & Ethel Caterham on 18 September 2025. (Source: Jonathan Brady/Press Association)
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