The international organisation said Caterham was born on August 21, 1909 in Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire, England, the youngest of eight.  

She worked as a nanny in both India and the UK and met her husband, Major Norman Caterham of the British Army, at a dinner party in 1933.

Following Sister Inah Canabarro’s passing on Wednesday, Ethel Caterham from Britain now holds the title of the oldest living person, being 115 years and 252 days old, as per LongeviQuest and Guinness World Records.

Canabarro was reportedly born into a sizable family in southern Brazil on June 8, 1908, based on researchers’ accounts, although her nephew claims her birth occurred two weeks earlier than recorded. She also spent time in Gibraltar and Hong Kong, where she helped establish a nursery. After returning to Surrey, she had two daughters, Gem and Anne, who both predeceased her. Despite her advanced age, she continued driving her late husband’s Triumph Dolomite until 97 and enjoyed playing bridge well beyond her 100th birthday.

She moved into a care home in 2020, survived COVID-19 and remains in good health to this day, enjoying sitting in the garden listening to birds or relaxing in her room to classical music.

– Reported with Associated Press