Who is Captain Tom Moore and why did the Queen knight him in England?

0
311

Captain Sir Tom Moore is the latest person to be knighted in Britain.

He was subject to a unique ceremony in which the Queen presented him one of Britain’s highest honours. So who is he and why do Brits love him so much?

Captain Sir Thomas Moore

Who is Tom Moore?

Captain Sir Tom Moore, 100, is a British national treasure and WWII veteran who has so far raised around £40million ($50.3million) for the British National Health Service (NHS) through his combined charity efforts.

Captain Moore, then 99, said he was doing his bit “for the sake of the nurses and the NHS” in his attempt to raise £1000 for NHS Charities Together at the height of the UK coronavirus crisis.

He wanted to thank staff who had helped his recovery from cancer and a broken hip.

His action was an inspiration to the British public at a time when they were all under strict lockdown, making him a hero to the country and a symbol of British determination and courage.

Sir Moore doing his laps for the NHS

Sir Tom, who was born in West Yorkshire, was a captain in the British Army during World War Two, serving in India and Burma.

Since completing his hundred laps, Captain Sir Moore has been relentless in racking up his achievements and fundraising efforts.

He has become the oldest artist to claim a UK No.1 single with “You’ll Never Walk Alone”.

His efforts have broken two Guiness World Records – the most money raised by charity walk by an individual, and the most money raised by a charity walk ever.

He has written two charity books too.

Sir Moore with his guard of honour

He was given an honorary promotion to Colonel by the British military, he was presented the Pride of Britain Award, and was awarded Freedom of the City of London.

The British public inundated him with fan mail, painted murals of him and even made a special bust statue.

The Football Association has awarded him honorary captain of the Lionhearts, which was presented at his home by David Beckham.

Captain Moore said: “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.”

A bronze bust of Captain Sir Tom Moore sculpted by Andrew Edwards to be displayed at the NHS Charities Together HQ

Why was he knighted by the Queen?

Captain Tom’s knighthood was the first thing that the Queen has done face to face in public since coming out of lockdown this week.

He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II with the insignia of Knight Bachelor at Windsor Castle on July 17, 2020, for raising over £32million for the NHS.

Her Majesty performed the special ceremony at Windsor Castle for the fundraising legend as a special exception.

The Queen’s arrival into the quadrangle was signaled by the sound of bagpipes played by the Queen’s Piper, Pipe Major Richard Grisdale, of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

The Queen Confers The Honour Of Knighthood On Captain Sir Thomas Moore

Waiting was hero Sir Tom and his family – daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore, son-in-law Colin Ingram, grandson Benjie and granddaughter Georgia.

With her father’s sword in her hand, the Queen, 94, lightly touched him first on his right shoulder then his left with the blade – dubbing him a knight.

She told him: “Thank you so much. An amazing amount of money you raised.”

Before the ceremony the 100-year-old national treasure joked “if I kneel down, I’ll never get up again, but I’m sure it’ll go well, as she’s done it before”.

Sir Tom called it “an absolutely outstanding day.”

The Queen Confers The Honour Of Knighthood On Captain Sir Thomas Moore

How many laps did he do round his garden?

Captain Sir Moore completed 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday.

On April 6, 2020, he started walking laps of his 25 metre garden, completing the challenge on Thursday April 16.

He steadily completed ten laps every day.

The 1.6 mile 100-lap garden challenge at his home in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire took in over 1.5million donations.

Then he kept going.

He kept walking until his birthday, under the watchful eye of a socially distanced guard of honour from the 1st Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment, which the unit he had served in WWII was merged into in 2006.

When was his 100th birthday?

Captain Sir Tom turned 100 on April 30, 2020.

British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, made a televised address to thank him for his “heroic efforts that have lifted the spirits of the entire nation”.

Johnson said that Sir Moore was “a point of light in all our lives” for the nation in crisis.

He was flooded with over 150 thousand birthday cards, which had to be opened by local school kids.

There was also a train named after him and an honorary flyover of his house by the RAF and the Army.

Captain Tom celebrates his centenary

How can I donate to his NHS Just Giving page?

You can donate to Captain Sir Tom’s cause here.

You can also find out a bit more about him at The Captain Tom Foundation website here.