World’s oldest person Ethel Caterham celebrates 117th birthday

The world’s oldest person, British woman Ethel Caterham, celebrated her 117th birthday on Friday.

Caterham, who lives in a care home in Surrey, about 25 miles outside London, is the first British person ever to live to 117, according to Guinness World Records (GWR).

“I’ve had a lovely day celebrating with my family and friends, and I look forward to seeing what next year brings,” Caterham told the UK’s PA Media news agency.

The world’s oldest man, João Marinho Neto, also wished Caterham a happy birthday from his home country of Brazil, GWR reports.

Caterham was visited by King Charles in September last year, shortly after her 116th birthday.

During the meeting, she recalled Charles’ 1969 investiture as Prince of Wales, when he was 21, telling him: “All the girls were in love with you and wanted to marry you.”

Caterham’s 117 years have spanned two World Wars, the sinking of the Titanic, the Russian Revolution and the Covid-19 pandemic – she is one of the oldest people to survive the virus after contracting it in 2020 at the age of 110, according to GWR .

Born on August 21, 1909 in Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire, southern England, as the second youngest of eight children, Caterham is the last surviving person born during the reign of King Edward VII.

At 18, she travelled alone to India, where she worked as a nanny for a military family. She later met British Army Maj. Norman Caterham at a dinner party in 1931 and the couple married at two years later.

They lived in Salisbury before moving overseas, including to Hong Kong, where Caterham set up a kindergarten. They later returned to Britain and raised two daughters, both of whom have since died. Her husband died in 1976.

Despite her impressive years, Caterham is still some way short of the record for the longest verified human lifespan.

That title belongs to Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment, who died in 1997 aged 122 years and 164 days.