Ethel has survived extraordinary challenges. In 2020, at the age of 110, she contracted Covid-19 — a disease particularly dangerous for the elderly — and made a full recovery.
Her secret to living such a long life?
A historic record
Ethel’s longevity has 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, she became the world’s oldest verified person.
On her 115th birthday, King Charles III sent her a congratulatory letter, praising her “truly remarkable milestone” and sending his “warmest good wishes.” By her 116th birthday in August 2025, she had even exchanged pleasantries with the king in person, recalling his investiture in 1969.
On 21 August 2025, she marked her 116th birthday, becoming the first British person ever to reach that age.
Ethel drove until she was 97, played contract bridge well into her centenarian years, and remained fiercely independent. She lived with her daughters before moving to a care facility in Surrey after the passing of her younger daughter, Anne, in 2020.
Her care home praised her incredible milestone:
“Your strength, spirit and wisdom are an inspiration to us all. Here’s to celebrating your remarkable journey.”
Ethel Caterham is more than a record holder — she is a living testament to a life well-lived, full of resilience, joy, and the ability to take everything in stride, the highs and the lows. Share this article on Facebook to celebrate this extraordinary woman!
