Capt Tom’s birthday to be marked by flypast

Captain Tom Moore’s 100th birthday will be marked by an RAF flypast, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced.

The Cabinet minister wrote on Twitter that the aerial salute was “meant to be a surprise for Tom”, but confirmed it would be happening after it emerged that his department rejected an earlier plan for a flypast organised by a Spitfire restoration company.

Captain Tom has raised £29 million for the NHS by walking laps of his garden ahead of his birthday.

Kent’s Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar had organised a flypast involving a Mark 9 Spitfire named The Spirit Of Kent.

But on Monday it revealed it had been denied permission for the flight by the Department for Transport, acknowledging that “current general aviation restrictions are in place to prevent non-essential travel”.

The firm said the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) – which is based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire and includes six Spitfires – is “not bound by the same restrictions”.

It added: “It is our understanding that they are now picking up the baton to provide a flypast for Captain Tom.

“Getting a Spitfire overhead for Captain Tom was always the primary goal and we’re thrilled that this may still be possible.

“We wish the BBMF team the very best of luck and hope that the weather permits a flypast on the 30th of April.”

Mr Shapps wrote on Twitter that the RAF flypast means Captain Tom will be honoured “in an even more significant way”.

The RAF would not comment on the plans.

Capt Tom Moore will turn 100 tomorrow.