Birthday event will celebrate Capt Tom

HIS DETERMINATION to raise money for the NHS led to worldwide praise and a knighthood from the Queen.

And now, a month after Captain Sir Tom Moore’s death, what would have been his 101st birthday will be celebrated through an event, which people around the world can get involved with, his daughter said.

Hannah Ingram-Moore said the event on April 30 “will truly celebrate his generosity of spirit, the hope and joy he brought to millions and his sense of fun”.

She did not disclose full details but asked, in a post on her father’s official Twitter account, that people save the date.

Sir Tom captured the hearts of the nation with his fundraising efforts during the first coronavirus lockdown when he walked 100 laps of his Bedfordshire garden before his 100th birthday last year, raising more than £32m.

The Second World War veteran died at Bedford Hospital on February 2 after testing positive for Covid-19.

His funeral was held on Saturday in Bedford, with his coffin carried to the crematorium by soldiers from the Yorkshire Regiment and a Second World Warera C-47 Dakota performing a flypast. Ms Ingram-Moore said yesterday: “In the last few months he (Captain Tom) often spoke of how proud he felt at being able to leave behind the legacy of his Foundation.

“So many of you have asked what will be done to commemorate the life and spirit of my father Captain Tom and we’ve had some amazing suggestions.

“The Captain Tom Foundation will be celebrating his life on what would have been his 101st birthday. We will make sure it is an event that everyone – in the UK and around the world – can get involved in and it will truly celebrate his generosity of spirit.”