Captain Tom Moore ‘deeply honoured’ after being granted freedom of London
Captain Tom Moore is to be honoured with the Freedom of the City of London in a ceremony that will take place virtually for the first time.
The 100-year-old Second World War veteran, who raised nearly £33 million for the NHS, is set to be honoured in an ancient tradition that is believed to date back to 1237.
He said: “I am deeply honoured to be granted the Freedom of the City of London.
“I remain humbled by the love and gratitude that I have received from the British public, and this honour is something that I will truly value for the rest of my life.”
He captured the hearts of a nation by setting off on 6 April to complete 100 laps of his garden to raise £1,000 for NHS Charities Together, which supports staff and volunteers caring for Covid-19 patients. A groundswell of international support had seen his Justgiving fundraising page close at £32,796,405 on his 100th birthday on 30 April.
He is now set to receive his honour in recognition of his outstanding charitable work at a ceremony that is to be livestreamed on the City of London Corporation’s Youtube channel tomorrow.
The veteran, who served in the Yorkshire Regiment and fought in Burma, is in lockdown in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire. The honour will be bestowed after a nomination by William Russell, the Lord Mayor of the City of London.