Let Captain Tom’s indomitable spirit live on forever
WITH THE passing of Captain Sir Tom Moore, a symbol of heroism has been lost. Yet amid our collective grief, we cherish the shining example he gave of hope in the face of adversity.
The flame may have gone out, but the light of his indomitable spirit remains, illuminating our path through the present crisis. His modest dignity touched our hearts. His granite courage inspired our generosity. His unfailing optimism rallied our nation.
On the eve of the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, Admiral Horatio Nelson sent this famous signal to his sailors: “England expects every man to do his duty.” Capt Sir Tom certainly did his duty in two very different ordeals that confronted Britain during the last century. In the Second World War, he was a valiant soldier, spending much of the conflict in the unforgiving Burma campaign against Japan, confronted by hostile conditions and an implacable foe.
Another kind of valour motivated him after the outbreak of Covid-19 last year. Having almost died after a serious fall at his Bedfordshire home in 2018, the 99-year-old veteran decided to embark on a fundraising daily walk for the NHS to repay the dedication of the hospital staff who had cared for him. His mission soon caught the imagination of the media and the British public, not least because of the toughness of the challenge, since every step was uncomfortable for him.
ON HIS quest, Capt Sir Tom not only unified the country in lockdown, but also raised almost £33million for the NHS. It was a phenomenal achievement, one that gained him a Guinness World Record as the greatest charitable walk fundraiser in history. He was rightly showered with awards, including a knighthood from the Queen and the rank of honorary colonel in the Army. The huge sum for the NHS is part of a rich legacy he leaves behind. But his magnificent work should also be marked in a more personal, tangible form, and the most fitting way to do that would be to erect a statue to him.
Given his record of selfless service, it is impossible to think of any figure in recent civic life who would be more deserving of such recognition.
As well as honouring his memory, a distinguished sculpture could have two other invaluable purposes. Like a modern version of the Cenotaph, it would allow the public to pay their respects to all the victims of the Covid pandemic. And it would serve as a tribute to NHS staff and other key workers.
The location for this statue is obvious. It should be put up on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square, which for years has been occupied by a succession of dismal avant-garde objects, whose mediocrity is matched by their pretentious shock value.Typical of this approach is the current occupant, a sculpture by Heather Phillipson comprising a swirl of whipped cream, topped by a cherry, a drone and a fly. Such self-indulgent infantilism is the antithesis of the heroic altruism personified by Capt Sir Tom.
This paper is proud to spearhead the campaign for a statue to him, an idea that has already attracted widespread support and, according to the Health Secretary Matt Hancock, is under consideration by the Government.
THE EFFORT is in the fine tradition of the Daily Express, which played a leading role in the creation of the magnificent Bomber Command Memorial at Hyde Park, unveiled to acclaim in 2012. The statue at the centre of that memorial was crafted by the brilliant Scottish sculptor Philip Jackson, who would be ideal for capturing the essence of Capt Sir Tom.
Public sculpture has been the target of controversy over the last year, due to the agitation of the social justice warriors, whose woke agenda is filled with contempt for Britain’s heritage, epitomised by their defacement of Churchill’s statue in Parliament Square and the calls to pull down the memorial in Oxford to African colonialist Cecil Rhodes.
There would be no such bitterness over a statue to Capt Sir Tom. On the contrary, it would again be a focus for national unity, just as he galvanised the nation during lockdown.
His lion-hearted character, fearless to the end, had another effect – as a potent refutation to the idea that the elderly have little to contribute to our society. The aloof lawyer Lord Sumption recently stated that some people’s lives are less valuable because they may have only a short time left. Capt Sir Tom made a mockery of that cruel concept. During the last remarkable year of his rich life, he became a catalyst for solidarity, fortitude and compassion. Through his heroics, he showed us the true meaning of humanity.
‘It would allow the public to pay respect to all the victims’