British woman Ethel Caterham turns 117, becoming first UK centenarian to reach the age
Ethel Caterham, aged 117, marked her birthday in a Surrey care home, becoming the first Briton recorded to reach that age, while receiving messages from world leaders and the world’s oldest man.
British supercentenarian Ethel Caterham celebrated her 117th birthday on Friday while residing in a care home near London. Guinness World Records confirmed she is the first person from the United Kingdom to reach the age, making her a historic milestone.
"I’ve had a lovely day celebrating with my family and friends, and I look forward to seeing what next year brings," Caterham told PA Media.
The world’s oldest man, João Marinho Neto of Brazil, also sent birthday wishes, according to the record-keeping organization. Caterham had previously met King Charles during a September visit last year, shortly after turning 116.
Born on August 21, 1909, in Hampshire, she is the last surviving individual born during King Edward VII’s reign. Her life has spanned major events such as two world wars, the Titanic sinking and the COVID-19 pandemic, from which she recovered after contracting the virus at age 110.
Caterham worked as a nanny in India as a teenager, later married British Army Major Norman Caterham, and lived in several countries, including Hong Kong where she established a kindergarten. She is survived by three granddaughters and five great-grandchildren. The longest verified human lifespan remains held by Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment, who lived to 122 years.