(London, May 5) The world’s oldest person, Sister Lucile Randon, passed away on May 1 at the age of 116. Now, the title goes to 115-year-old Ethel Caterham from the United Kingdom, who is 252 days into her 115th year.
Caterham shared her secret to longevity during an interview, saying, “Never argue with others, listen, and do what you love.”
Born on August 21, 1909, in Shipton Bellinger, Southern England, Caterham came into the world five years before World War I. She was the seventh child among eight siblings.
Currently residing in a care home in Surrey, Southwest London, Caterham spoke with the BBC in 2020 about her life and longevity secrets.
Caterham enjoys traveling. In 1927, at the age of 18, she worked as a nanny in India for three years before returning to England.
In 1931, she met her husband, Major Norman of the British Army, and followed him to postings in Hong Kong and Gibraltar. The couple had two daughters. Norman passed away in 1976. Caterham now has three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
At the age of 110 in 2020, Caterham lived through the COVID-19 pandemic and emerged unscathed.
In 2022, Caterham revealed that for her, "Family is the most important thing in life. Leaving beautiful memories for future generations is what matters most."
On May 1, the Signature Lakeview Luxury Care Home celebrated Caterham becoming the world’s oldest living person at 115 years old. In a statement, the care home remarked, “This is an incredible milestone and a testament to a life well-lived.”
According to the Guinness World Records, the oldest person ever recorded was Jeanne Calment of France, who lived to the age of 122 years and 164 days.