Ethel Caterham, who became the world’s oldest living person at the age of 115 in May 2025, is celebrating her 117th birthday on August 21.
The woman, who lives in a care home in Surrey, England, experienced several firsts in her life over the past year.
For example, she met the British King in September 2025.
She was born on August 21, 1909, in the village of Shipton Bellinger in southern England.
She was the seventh of eight siblings, and travelling was her favourite hobby.
In 1927, at the age of 18, she began travelling to the Indian subcontinent, where she also worked for a British family for three years before returning to England.
She met her husband, Norman, in 1931.
Norman, who was a member of the British military, was stationed in Hong Kong and Gibraltar.
Her husband died in 1976, and they had two daughters who were raised in Britain.
During her long life, she lost both her husband and her two daughters, but she is still surrounded by her three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
During her lifetime, she has witnessed six people ascend to the British throne. Ethel is also the last living person from the reign of British King Edward VII, who ruled Britain from 1901 until his death in 1910.
So, what is the secret to her long life?
In her own words: “I have never argued with anyone. I listen to everyone, but I do what I want to do.”
According to her, that is the secret to her longevity.
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