Ethel Caterham Marks 117th Birthday as First Briton to Reach the Milestone
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · Aug 21
Ethel Caterham Marks 117th Birthday as First Briton to Reach the Milestone
3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Aug 21
Summary
117-year-old Ethel Caterham celebrated quietly at her Surrey care home with family, friends and a Frank Sinatra impersonator, marking another year as the world's oldest living person.
LongeviQuest said the birthday makes her the first British person ever to turn 117 and only the 13th person worldwide known to have reached that age.
Caterham, born on Aug. 21, 1909, reflected that she has had "many firsts" this year, including stroking a llama and holding hands with King Charles III during his September visit.
Validated by Guinness World Records and other longevity groups, she has steadily set age records in Surrey, the UK and Britain since 2019; she once said her secret is to avoid arguing.