With tears and flowers, Britain mourns 'hero' Captain Tom Moore

[snoop1130]

With tears and flowers, Britain mourns 'hero' Captain Tom Moore

By Ben Makori

 

FILE PHOTO: Retired British Army Captain Tom Moore, 99, raises money for health workers by attempting to walk the length of his garden one hundred times before his 100th birthday this month as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, Marston Moretaine, Britain, April 15, 2020. REUTERS/Peter Cziborra/File Photo

 

MARSTON MORETAINE, England (Reuters) - With flowers and lights, Britain paid tribute on Wednesday to Captain Tom Moore, 100, who touched the hearts of millions by offering a simple message of hope and self-sacrifice during the COVID-19 lockdown.

 

Moore, who raised tens of millions of pounds for the National Health Service by walking up and down his garden, leaning on a frame, died on Tuesday in Bedford Hospital after suffering pneumonia and COVID-19. He had been fighting cancer for 5 years.

 

After parliament held a minute of silence, Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged Britons later on Wednesday to clap for Moore and the health workers he raised funds for to "show our appreciation of him and all that he stood for and believed in".

 

Outside his home in Marston Moretaine, 50 miles (80 km) north of London, children laid flowers. One message read: "Rest in Peace Captain Tom. We love you. X."

 

"You will always be our hero," read another message. "Thank you for your warmth and your wonderful smile. Rest in Peace."

 

His picture was shown on Piccadilly Circus in central London while the London Eye, Wembley Stadium and the Blackpool Tower shone lights of honour.

 

Condolences poured in from Queen Elizabeth II, Johnson and even the White House while soccer players, school children and his family shed tears for a man who millions consider a lockdown hero.

 

Amid the death and gloom of the COVID-19 pandemic, war veteran Moore's wit and inspiration struck a chord with millions.

 

"For all those people who are finding it difficult at the moment: the sun will shine on you again and the clouds will go away," said Moore, dressed in a blazer and tie and displaying his war medals, after completing his walk in April.

 

Raised in Yorkshire, northern England, Moore served in India, Burma and Sumatra during World War Two. Always polite and dapper in public, Moore had a mischievous humour.

 

When asked about speculation he would be knighted by the queen, he quipped that he would find it funny to be known as "Sir Thomas Moore" - a reference to the beheaded Tudor statesman.

 

He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth at a ceremony at Windsor Castle.

 

"Her Majesty very much enjoyed meeting Captain Sir Tom and his family at Windsor last year," Buckingham Palace said. "Her thoughts and those of the Royal Family are with them."

 

While Moore exuded modesty, his fame was global: CNN ran a banner headline about his death during the news, Russia news broadcasts reported that "Tom Moore died like a real soldier" and his death was reported across Asia.

 

The United Kingdom has the world's fifth worst official COVID-19 death toll - currently at 108,013 - but Moore brought hope to many.

 

"Whilst he'd been in so many hearts for just a short time, he was an incredible father and grandfather, and he will stay alive in our hearts forever," his daughters said.

 

Health Minister Matt Hancock told BBC television: "We should find a way to make sure that we mark the memory of Captain Tom and thank him for the contribution that he made for the NHS (health service).

 

"He touched the heart of the nation and we should remember that."

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-02-03

 

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[Justgrazing]

5 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

 

Outside his home in Marston Moretaine, 50 miles (80 km) north of London, children laid flowers. One message read: "Rest in Peace Captain Tom. We love you. X

 

He received over 140,000 cards for his birthday last year many , many from young kids from all over the world such was his appeal to all generations with many children in tears at yesterday's news .. 

The fact that messages of condolence have come in from all over the globe including from the new administration in the W H says how highly he was regarded , thought of and how much he will be missed ..

 

[7by7]

An inspiration to many; for example Tony Hudgell.

 

Amputee schoolboy Tony Hudgell raises £320,000 for NHS

Quote

A five-year old schoolboy who had both of his legs amputated has raised more than £320,000 for the hospital that saved his life.

Tony Hudgell has new prosthetic legs and crutches and aims to walk every day in June to reach his 10km challenge.

He said he had hoped to raise £500 for charity, inspired by Captain Tom Moore.

 

Rest in peace, Captain Sir Tom.

[Tug]

A fine example of a life well lived thankyou for your example rip sir Tom 

[BangkokReady]

I wonder where he contracted covid.  It would be quite ironic if he got it from a visit to an NHS facility.

[CharlieH]

Reported post with unsubstatiated content and subsequent response removed.

[Poet]

No point then. To be fair, another member actually asked how he contracted Covid, the answer to that is undisputed by his family, and is fairly important information for those of us with vulnerable family members.

 

Edited February 3, 2021 by Poet

[Mansell]

The best of all that is British. Damn funny guy. When asked about what he would need for some place he was visiting, he responded something like, “A Mars Bar, a Coke, and six blondes. But the blondes are negotiable.” 

[Caldera]

Rest in peace, Sir Tom. Sad to see you go, but you had a really good run.

[vogie]

This makes an interesting read, nothing to add that hasn't already been written.

 

 

Edited February 4, 2021 by vogie

[bert bloggs]

15 minutes ago, polpott said:

All I would bet. He got just as much respect from minorities as he did from your favoured white majority. Shame on you for trying to foster your racist agenda on the back of the death of a wonderful man. He was recently knighted for the debt that British people owed him, as was Marcus Rashford.

So why are they not doing it? As for racist i cannot see that Ivor was being racist,taking the knee was all about race and the fact that the guy was black

[PETERTHEEATER]

19 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

I wonder where he contracted covid.  It would be quite ironic if he got it from a visit to an NHS facility.

There is a photograph of him with Sir Cliff Richard and A N Other celebrity, one on each side in contact all three with no masks. He could not be vaccinated against the virus due to 'contra-indications'.

[brewsterbudgen]

2 hours ago, polpott said:

All I would bet. He got just as much respect from minorities as he did from your favoured white majority. Shame on you for trying to foster your racist agenda on the back of the death of a wonderful man. He was recently knighted for the debt that British people owed him, as was Marcus Rashford.

Well said.  It's sad that some people choose to try and make political capital about something so unifying.  Shame on them.

[Berkshire]

Sad to see this man pass.  A good man.  I would have liked to shake his hand. 

[Rimmer]

A post trying to derail the topic has been removed also a couple of replies