World’s oldest living woman, 116, reveals a surprising secret to her long life
Ethel recalled being served by household staff and experiencing a blend of British and Indian traditions, from Christmas celebrations to enjoying Tiffin and Tea. She spent four years working as a nanny in both India and the UK before meeting her future husband, Norman Caterham, a British Army major, at a dinner party in 1931.
The couple married in 1933 at Salisbury Cathedral, where Norman had once been a choirboy. He eventually rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Royal Army Pay Corps. They first lived in Harnham near Salisbury before postings took them to Hong Kong and Gibraltar. While in Hong Kong, Ethel founded a nursery for local and British children, teaching English, games, and crafts.
A life filled with milestones — and surprises
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?
“Never arguing with anyone. I listen and I do what I like,” she told the BBC. Simple, yet powerful advice from someone who has truly mastered the art of living.
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.
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