Key points from article :
Ethel Caterham, a 115-year-old woman from Surrey, UK, has been officially recognised as the oldest living person in the world. The record, confirmed by Guinness World Records and longevity research organisation LongeviQuest, follows the recent passing of Brazilian nun Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas, who was 116.
Born on 21 August 1909 in Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire, Ethel is the last surviving subject of King Edward VII. She has lived through a vast sweep of history — from the sinking of the Titanic and both World Wars to the Covid-19 pandemic, which she survived in 2020 at age 110. She worked as an au pair in India, married a military officer in 1933, and lived in places including Hong Kong and Gibraltar before settling in Surrey, where she continued driving until she was 97.
When asked about the secret to her extraordinary longevity, Ethel replied, “never arguing with anyone” and simply “doing what I like.” On her 115th birthday, she received a congratulatory letter from King Charles, who praised her "fascinating personal history" and called her birthday a "remarkable milestone."
Ethel's story is not linked to any scientific paper but highlights ongoing public interest in longevity. Researchers and record-keepers alike are intrigued by individuals like her, whose lives stretch across three centuries and provide a living connection to the past.
