Ethel Caterham is now within one month of the age of Charlotte Hughes (115-228).

Should she go on to overtake Charlotte Hughes, then the latter's record as the oldest person in the UK (which appears to have been set in late February 1992), would then finally be broken after more than 33 years. 

Ethel Caterham is the only member of the UK top 4, born after 1885. This is unusual given the generally far heavier numbers of supercentenarians born in the 1890s and beyond.  

This would be a huge milestone indeed. April 5th is D-Day for equalling the record.

Posted by: @chrisr

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Ethel Caterham is now within one month of the age of Charlotte Hughes (115-228).

Should she go on to overtake Charlotte Hughes, then the latter's record as the oldest person in the UK (which appears to have been set in late February 1992), would then finally be broken after more than 33 years. 

Ethel Caterham is the only member of the UK top 4, born after 1885. This is unusual given the generally far heavier numbers of supercentenarians born in the 1890s and beyond.  

What's interesting is that 5 out of the top 7 oldest validated British people ever were also born in or before 1885. It's very interesting, because British women did not suffer massive demographic losses from the World Wars like British men did.

But that argument would largely be the same for all of the other European countries.

By comparison with pretty much any other top 10 I can find - that from the United Kingdom has far more older cases. For example only two exist from 1900 onwards.

By comparison, the all time top 10 has 6 from 1900 onwards,  each of Europe, Japan and Brazil have 7, France and Italy have 6 and many others are similar.

The USA however only has one.

If we then consider the USA and UK as "laggards" in this respect ..... then the USA at least has 6 born from 1890 onwards, whilst the UK only appears to have 4.

Yeah, fair points. Interestingly enough, it's a similar story for American men post-1896. After Walter Breuning, no American man has actually managed to reach age 113+.

So, after a reign of 33yrs 37 days, this is Charlotte Hughes last day as sole holder of Britain's Oldest Ever title.

Posted by: @finbarrc

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So, after a reign of 33yrs 37 days, this is Charlotte Hughes last day as sole holder of Britain's Oldest Ever title.

Yes, barring something truly extraordinarily unexpected.

I think the same would apply in terms of the top 10 oldest ever persons from Europe.

Mrs Caterham would take that position as well as the oldest ever from the UK.

Ethel could easily become the first British 116+ year-old in slightly under half a year's time, being the British female equivalent of what Henry Allingham was for British males!

Today Ms. Ethel Caterham ties Ms. Charlotte Hughes of UK at 115 years, 228 days. 

The joint-oldest known british people are Ms. Charlotte Hughes, who died in 1993 at the age of 115 years and 228 days, and sharing the title Ms. Ethel Caterham born 21st Aug 1909 and living.

By days lived, Ms. Caterham is now the outright recordholder (42.232  d. vs 42.231 d.).

After 32 years the title for UK oldest person ever could be finally broken.

It’s after midnight in the UK now … so we’ll see what transpires.

I was speaking with a UK friend yesterday who has no interest in supercentenarians and he knew of this impending matter.

Perhaps our UK members have also seen something in the media and hopefully there will be some sort of commemoration today.

Ms. Caterham, reaching the age of 115 years and 229 days on 7 April 2025 (today), has become the UK’s oldest person ever.

After 32 years, the British longevity record set by Charlotte Hughes is finally broken.

Ms. Caterham is alive and well and she is aware of becoming the UK’s oldest ever person.

Congratulations!

Posted by: @ale76

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Ms. Caterham, reaching the age of 115 years and 229 days on 7 April 2025 (today), has become the UK’s oldest person ever.

After 32 years, the British longevity record set by Charlotte Hughes is finally broken.

Ms. Caterham is alive and well and she is aware of becoming the UK’s oldest ever person.

Congratulations!

Does she also aim to become the second-oldest European person ever, breaking Maria Branyas Morera's record? Slightly less than two years to go for her.

Posted by: @futurist

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Does she also aim to become the second-oldest European person ever, breaking Maria Branyas Morera's record? Slightly less than two years to go for her.

 

@futurist Better to remind you:

@ale76 yeah, for her to become the second-oldest European person everz she would have to surpass Lucile Randon, which I don't see happening but it is not impossible.

Even after the group Ale has tabled, there are 5 other European women between 116-37 and 116-128.    

For those who target milestones, all of these 5 are still a long way off for Mrs Caterham - with most over 6 months away.

That is a long time at these sort of ages, so for now she is only just into the Europe all time top 10.

When I started learning about supercentenarians back in 2010–2011, the mighty British record of Charlotte Hughes was already among the oldest national records. It's astonishing it stood for more than three decades altogether. And even more astonishing is the new recordholder – Ethel Catherham. Congratulations to her! 🌺 

Posted by: @ale76

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Posted by: @futurist

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Does she also aim to become the second-oldest European person ever, breaking Maria Branyas Morera's record? Slightly less than two years to go for her.

 

@futurist Better to remind you:

Rank	Name	Age	Lifespan	Country
1	Jeanne Calment	122 years, 164 days	1875-1997	France
2	Kane Tanaka	119 years, 107 days	1903-2022	Japan
3	Sarah Knauss	119 years, 97 days	1880-1999	USA
4	Lucile Randon	118 years, 340 days	1904-2023	France
5	Nabi Tajima	117 years, 260 days	1900-2018	Japan
6	Marie-Louise Meilleur	117 years, 230 days	1880-1998	Canada
7	Violet Brown	117 years, 189 days	1900-2017	Jamaica
8	María Branyas Morera	117 years, 168 days	1907-2024	USA/Spain
9	Emma Morano	117 years, 137 days	1899-2017	Italy
10	Chiyo Miyako	117 years, 81 days	1901-2018	Japan

Sorry, I forgot about Lucile because she was so recent! Still, surpassing Maria Branyas Morera would make her the third-oldest validated European person ever and the oldest validated non-French European person ever!

Quite amazing that both of the validated European women who lived beyond age 117.5+ were from France, from Arles and Ales!

Posted by: @futurist

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Sorry, I forgot about Lucile because she was so recent! Still, surpassing Maria Branyas Morera would make her the third-oldest validated European person ever and the oldest validated non-French European person ever! 

I haven't seen you congratulating Ethel Caterham for her new record. Maybe a bit less of demanding and bit more of gratefulness would do you good, don't you think?

https://longeviquest.com/2025/04/worlds-second-oldest-person-ethel-caterham-115-becomes-uks-oldest-person-ever/

World’s Second-Oldest Person, Ethel Caterham, 115, Becomes UK’s Oldest Person Ever

LongeviQuest is pleased to confirm that the oldest living person in Europe and second-oldest person in the world, Ethel Caterham, has become the oldest ever British person upon reaching the age of 115 years and 229 days. Mrs. Caterham set the new British longevity record on 7th April upon surpassing the age of Charlotte Hughes (1877–1993), a record that has stood for 33 years.

Caterham was born in Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire, England on 21st August 1909 and grew up in Wiltshire. In 1927, at the age of 18, she found work as a nanny for a British family living in India, travelling independently by ship for three weeks to start her new role — a rare adventure for a young woman at the time.

She returned to England three years later and in 1931 met her future husband Norman, a major in the British army, at a dinner party. The couple married in Salisbury Cathedral before moving to Gibraltar where Norman was stationed. Whilst in Gibraltar they welcomed two daughters: Ethel (1933–2005) and Ann (1936–2020).

Caterham was widowed in 1976, but ever the optimist, she embraced this new chapter of life. She enjoyed gardening, walking her dogs, spending time with family, and socialising with friends. She drove until the age of 97 and remained a regular bridge player well into her centenarian years. Today, at 115, her favourite pastime is sitting in the sun in her garden — aptly named Ethel’s Garden — listening to the birds.

Caterham became the oldest living person in the United Kingdom following the 22nd January 2022 death of 112-year-old Mollie Walker and the oldest living person in Europe on 19th August following the death of 117-year-old María Branyas Morera of Spain. On 21st August 2024 she became only the third British person to reach the age of 115 and the first to do so since 1999.

Currently, Caterham is the second-oldest living person in the world, behind Brazil’s Inah Canabarro Lucas and one of only three living people who were born in the 1900s. She is also the last surviving British person born before 1913.

My own congratulations are also overdue for

this wonderful result for Mrs Ethel Caterham.

Wonderful to have the formal confirmation as well now.

Posted by: @024tomi

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Posted by: @futurist

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Sorry, I forgot about Lucile because she was so recent! Still, surpassing Maria Branyas Morera would make her the third-oldest validated European person ever and the oldest validated non-French European person ever! 

I haven't seen you congratulating Ethel Caterham for her new record. Maybe a bit less of demanding and bit more of gratefulness would do you good, don't you think?

I was just about to. Congratulations Ethel on surpassing Charlotte Hughes's all-time British longevity record and may you break many additional records in the future! 🙂

The sad passing of Ms Okagi Hiyashi means that (barring an absolutely spectacular new validation) Ms Caterham will now go down in history as the oldest person born in 1909.

Alas we now have just two remaining from pre 1910.

On 30th April 2025, following the sad passing of Inah Canabarro Lucas, Ms. Caterham became the World's Oldest validated living person.

https://longeviquest.com/2025/04/uks-ethel-caterham-115-becomes-worlds-oldest-living-person/

Ethel Caterham Confirmed As World’s Oldest Person

Ethel Caterham, the oldest British person in history and a resident of Surrey, England, has become the world’s oldest living person as of today, 30 April. At the age of 115 years, 252 days, she succeeds Inah Canabarro Lucas, who passed away today in Porto Alegre, Brazil, at the age of 116.

Early Life

Ethel Caterham was born on 21 August 1909 in Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire, England, and raised in Tidworth, Wiltshire. She was the second youngest of eight children. Her older sister, Gladys Babilas (21 December 1897 – 9 March 2002), lived to be 104 years, 78 days old.

At 18, Ethel took her first job as a nanny for a British family in India. Driven by a sense of adventure, she made the three-week voyage alone by ship in 1927. She later recalled her time in India fondly, describing a life where they were served by household staff and embraced both British traditions—like Christmas—and Indian customs such as Tiffin and Tea. Over four years, she worked as a nanny in both India and the UK.

In 1931, she met her future husband, Major Norman Caterham of the British Army, at a dinner party. They married in 1933 at Salisbury Cathedral, where Norman had once been a choirboy. Norman rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Royal Army Pay Corps, and the couple lived in Harnham before postings in Hong Kong and Gibraltar. While in Hong Kong, Ethel established a nursery for local and British children, teaching English, crafts, and games. Their two daughters, Gem and Anne, were born after the family settled back in Surrey.

Later Life

Widowed in 1976, Ethel inherited her husband’s Triumph Dolomite and continued driving it until she was 97. She remained active well into old age, playing bridge regularly as a centenarian. She outlived both daughters—Gem in the early 2000s and Anne, who died of cancer at 82 in February 2020.

Today, at the age of 115, Ethel remains in good health. Her favourite pass-time is sitting quietly in her garden (aptly named Ethel’s garden in her honour) in the sunshine listening to birds, or sitting quietly relaxing in her room listening to classical music.

Longevity Records

Caterham became the oldest living person in the United Kingdom following the death of 112-year-old Mollie Walker on 22 January 2022.

On 19 August 2024, after the passing of 117-year-old María Branyas Morera, she became the oldest living person in Europe.

Then, on 7 April 2025, at the age of 115 years and 229 days, she surpassed the final age of Charlotte Hughes (1877–1993), becoming the oldest Briton in recorded history—a record that had stood for 32 years.

Following the recent deaths of Japan’s Okagi Hayashi on 26 April and Brazil’s Inah Canabarro Lucas on 30 April, Caterham is now the last known surviving person born in the year 1909. She is also the last British person born before 1913 and the last living subject of Edward VII.

It's amazing that my country has the WOP title

https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2025/5/uks-oldest-ever-person-ethel-caterham-becomes-worlds-oldest-person-at-age-115

Ms. Caterham has been recognized as the WOLP by the GWR and they credit LQ.

A huge congratulations to Mrs Caterham on becoming the WOP.

And LQ on consolidating their position as the leading authority on ageing and supercentenarians - for GWR.  

On the page of "Oldest person living" list by GWR. It says woman instead of person by mistake

Mrs Caterham now has a very prestigious set of achievements.

1. The oldest person in the history of the UK.

2. The oldest person ever born in 1909.

3. The last person remaining from the pre 1910 era.

4. The worlds oldest person.

interestingly all of these achievements came in a 23 day period between the ages of 115-229 and 115-252.