At an age few humans have ever reached, Ethel Caterham marked her 117th birthday in the UK on Thursday, crediting a life lived in moderation for her remarkable longevity.
Ms Caterham has become the first person in recorded history to reach the age of 117 and is one of only 13 people in recorded history to reach the milestone.
Now living in a care home in Surrey, she said she has always tried to keep a balanced approach to life. “I enjoyed everything in life but in moderation,” Ms Caterham said.
Her personal rule, she added, was to steer clear of conflict: “I never argue with anyone. I listen to what they say, and then do as I like.”
Ms Caterham was born on 21 August 1909 in Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire.
Her life has spanned continents as well as decades. At 18, she travelled by ship to India to work as a nanny before returning to England, where she married a British army officer.
The world’s oldest man João Marinho Neto had a birthday message for Ethel Caterham
The couple later lived in Gibraltar and Hong Kong and had two daughters.
Independence remained a hallmark of her later years. After her husband died, Ms Caterham learned to drive at 67 and stayed behind the wheel until she was 97.
Her birthday celebrations also drew an international salute, with a message arriving from Brazil’s João Marinho Neto, the world’s oldest man.
Mr Neto, 113, posed smiling for a photograph holding a sign that read “Parabéns Ethel” — Portuguese for “Congratulations Ethel.”
The world’s oldest man also sent Ms Caterham birthday wishes when she turned 116 last year.
