Ethel Caterham, the world’s oldest living person and the last surviving Edwardian, celebrated her 116th birthday on Thursday.
Born on August 21, 1909, in Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire, Caterham has lived through two world wars, seen the rise and fall of empires, and experienced significant social and cultural changes.
Caterham became the oldest living person in April after the death of Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas, a Brazilian nun, at 116.
In an interview with a media outfit in 2020, Caterham attributed her longevity to taking “everything in my stride, the highs and lows.” She said: “I listen and I do what I like.”
According to the Gerontology Research Group, Caterham met her husband, Norman, a major in the British army, at a dinner party in 1931.
The couple was stationed in Hong Kong and Gibraltar and had two children. After Norman’s death in 1976, Caterham has lived alone for almost half a century.
Caterham will celebrate her birthday at the care home in Lightwater, Surrey, where she lives, surrounded by her family. A spokesperson for her care home said: “Ethel and her family are so grateful for all of the kind messages and interest shown to her as she celebrates her 116th birthday this year.
Ethel has again chosen not to give any interviews, preferring to spend the day quietly with her family so that she can enjoy it at her own pace.”
Last year, King Charles sent Caterham a card to mark her 115th birthday. The king may be her one concession this year, as she prefers to keep a low profile on her special day.
The title of the oldest person ever is held by Jeanne Calment, a French woman who lived to 122 years and 164 days, according to Guinness World Records.
When Caterham was born in 1909, Herbert Henry Asquith was the UK’s Liberal prime minister, and Edward VII was king. The UK’s first state pensions were being paid after the introduction of the Old Age Pensions Act.
Claude Monet’s Water Lilies series had just gone on show for the first time at an exhibition in Paris. General Electric patented the electric toaster invented by Frank Shailor. Bulgaria was about to declare independence from the Ottoman empire.
As Caterham celebrates her 116th birthday, she is a reminder of the incredible advancements and changes that have taken place over the past century. Her life is a testament to the human spirit’s ability to adapt, thrive, and live life to the fullest.