At 117, Ethel Caterham Shares the Simple Outlook She Credits for a Long Life

Ethel Caterham has reached an extraordinary milestone. On 21 August 2026, the British supercentenarian celebrates her 117th birthday, marking another year in a life that has spanned more than a century of extraordinary social, political and technological change.

Caterham is recognised as the world’s oldest living person. Her lifetime stretches back to 1909, when Edward VII was still on the British throne and the modern world looked dramatically different from today. Since then, she has witnessed two world wars, the sinking of the Titanic, the arrival of television, the first moon landing, the rise of the internet and the transformation of everyday life through modern technology.

Yet when asked about the secret behind her remarkable longevity, Caterham has offered an answer that is considerably simpler than many of the theories surrounding healthy ageing.

Her advice is essentially to avoid unnecessary conflict.

She has previously explained that she does not spend her life arguing with people. Instead, she listens, makes her own choices and tries to enjoy life on her own terms. It is a straightforward philosophy, but one that has attracted considerable attention because of the extraordinary age she has reached.

A birthday filled with memories

Caterham is spending her 117th birthday surrounded by family and friends at Hallmark Lakeview Care Home in Lightwater, Surrey.

Reflecting on the past year, she described it as a period filled with new experiences. Despite having lived through 117 years of history, she has continued to encounter moments that are completely new to her.

Among those experiences was meeting King Charles III. The monarch visited her at the care home in September 2025, shortly after her 116th birthday.

During their meeting, Caterham reportedly remembered seeing Charles at his investiture as Prince of Wales in 1969, when he was 21 years old. With characteristic humour, she told him that many young women had been attracted to him at the time.

The meeting offered a striking glimpse into Caterham’s perspective. She was able to speak to the King not simply as a resident of a care home, but as someone who remembers a much younger Charles from more than half a century ago.

Her other memorable experiences during the past year have included stroking a llama and taking part in other activities that she had never previously experienced.

For someone who has already lived through more than a century, the willingness to embrace something unfamiliar appears to remain part of her outlook.

A life that began in 1909

Caterham was born on 21 August 1909 in Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire. She was the second youngest of eight children and was born less than a year before the death of Edward VII.

That makes her the last surviving person known to have been born during his reign.

Her childhood belonged to a very different Britain. Cars were still relatively uncommon, commercial aviation was in its infancy and many technologies that are now considered essential did not yet exist.

As a young woman, Caterham travelled far from home. In 1927, at the age of 18, she went to India, where she worked as an au pair for a military family. She remained there until she was 21.

Her experiences overseas became an important part of a life that would later involve living in several different parts of the world.

In 1931, she met Norman Caterham at a dinner party in Britain. Norman was a lieutenant colonel in the British Army, and the couple eventually married.

Their life together included periods in Salisbury, Gibraltar and Hong Kong. While living in Hong Kong, Caterham established a nursery school and raised two daughters.

Sadly, both of her daughters died before her. Her husband died in 1976.

Despite these profound losses, Caterham continued to build a life around independence, activity and personal interests.

Independence well into old age

Caterham’s longevity has not simply been about reaching a particular number. Her story also includes an unusual degree of independence at an advanced age.

She continued driving until she was 97, an age at which many people would already have stopped driving for several decades.

She also remained interested in playing contract bridge during her years as a centenarian. The combination of social activity, mental engagement and independence has been a recurring feature of accounts of her life.

Her family history also provides an interesting detail. One of her sisters, Gladys, lived to the age of 104, suggesting that longevity may have had a familial component in the Caterham family.

Caterham also survived Covid-19 in 2020, when she was 110 years old.

That episode was another remarkable chapter in a life that has already included countless historical turning points.

What can her story teach us?

It would be wrong to assume that Caterham’s approach is a scientifically proven recipe for living to 117.

Avoiding arguments may contribute to a calmer lifestyle, but longevity is influenced by a complex combination of genetics, environment, healthcare, social circumstances, behaviour and chance.

Nevertheless, there is something compelling about Caterham’s attitude.

Rather than presenting a complicated formula involving a strict diet, intensive exercise regime or expensive wellness programme, her philosophy focuses on maintaining peace of mind and choosing how to spend her energy.

Her approach also highlights the importance of continuing to engage with life.

At 117, she is still interested in new experiences. She has met a reigning monarch, tried activities she had never previously attempted and continues to celebrate important occasions with people close to her.

That perspective may be one of the most appealing aspects of her story. Longevity is not only about adding years to life. It can also involve remaining curious about what those years might bring.

One of the longest lives ever recorded

Although Caterham is currently recognised as the world’s oldest living person, she has not surpassed the record for the longest verified human lifespan.

That distinction belongs to Jeanne Calment of France, who lived to 122 years and 164 days, according to Guinness World Records.

Caterham therefore still has several years to go before approaching that extraordinary benchmark.

For now, however, her 117th birthday represents a remarkable achievement in its own right.

Her life connects the present day with a world that existed before the First World War. She has experienced immense changes in transportation, medicine, communication, culture and society. She has lived in different countries, raised a family, endured bereavement and remained active well into later life.

And when asked what might have helped her reach such an exceptional age, her answer remains refreshingly uncomplicated: do not waste energy on arguments, listen to others and live according to your own preferences.

There is no guarantee that this philosophy will lead anyone to 117. But Caterham’s extraordinary life demonstrates the enduring appeal of a calm outlook, personal independence and an openness to new experiences.

At an age when every birthday is historically significant, she continues to look forward rather than simply backward.

Source: The Independent, published 21 August 2026.

Disclaimer: This article is a written summary based on the supplied source material. It is intended for general informational purposes and does not claim that any particular habit or attitude can guarantee a longer lifespan. Details about longevity should not be interpreted as medical advice.