Surrey woman, 115, becomes world’s oldest person

A woman from Surrey has become the oldest person in the world, at the age of 115 and 253 days.

Ethel Caterham, who lives at a care home in Lightwater, reached the milestone following the death of Brazilian nun Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas, aged 116.

Ms Caterham was born on 21 August 1909 and is believed to be the last surviving subject of Edward VII.

Celebrating her 115th birthday in August 2024, she said she “didn’t know why there was all the fuss”.

She said the secret to her longevity was “never arguing with anyone, I listen and I do what I like”.

Ms Caterham was born in Shipton Bellinger, in Hampshire, and was raised in nearby Tidworth in Wiltshire.

At the age of 18, she was employed as an au pair to a military family in India.

She returned to the UK in 1931 and met her future husband, Norman Caterham. They married at Salisbury Cathedral in 1933.

Ms Caterham has lived through the sinking of the Titanic, World War One, the Russian Revolution, the Great Depression and World War Two.

She has spent the last 50 years living in Surrey and continued driving until she was 97.

One of her sisters, Gladys, lived to be 104.

Ms Caterham has three granddaughters and five great grandchildren.