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Captain Sir Tom Moore


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Captain Tom Moore's 100th birthday will be marked with an RAF flypast, the transport secretary has announced.

The war veteran, who has raised more than £29m for the NHS by walking laps of his garden, turns 100 on Thursday.

The Department for Transport blocked an earlier plan for a flypast of his home organised by a Spitfire restoration firm, as it was deemed "non-essential".

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps wrote on Twitter that the RAF aerial salute was "meant to be a surprise".

The Ministry of Defence said the flypast would "celebrate Captain Tom's birthday and mark his amazing fundraising achievement".

It urged people "to follow Captain Tom's disciplined example and not gather to watch the flypast but continue following guidelines on social distancing".

Captain Tom Moore

Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar had organised a flypast involving a Mark XI Spitfire for Captain Tom's birthday, but on Monday it said it had been denied permission to complete the flight.

Instead, its aircraft will fly on a circuit around Biggin Hill Airfield, near Croydon, to coincide with the weekly Clap for Carers event.

The restoration company said the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight - which is based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire and includes six Spitfires - was "not bound by the same restrictions" on travel.

Mr Shapps said the RAF flypast of Captain Tom's Bedfordshire home meant he would be honoured "in an even more significant way".

Bedfordshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, Kathryn Holloway, has warned people not to travel to visit Captain Tom in order to protect his "health and safety".

birthday cards in school hall

Meanwhile, a school attended by Captain Tom's grandson Benjie Ingram-Moore has been flooded with more than 125,000 cards from well-wishers across the globe.

Famous names including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Dame Kelly Holmes and England football captain Harry Kane have sent birthday cards for Captain Tom to Bedford School.

Benjie turned to his school for help when he learned the Post Office was being swamped.

Staff, parents and pupils spent hours opening each card and creating a display in the school's great hall.

Benjie, 16, said: "The volume of cards that have been sent to granddad is just astonishing.

"So many of the cards are truly heartfelt with thousands from young children who have taken the time to use their artistic talent and write a personal message."

birthday cards in school hall

In another tribute to Captain Tom, all mail sent from Monday will be stamped with a special postmark in his honour.

TAKEN FROM: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-52453194

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2 hours ago, phantom said:

I have no idea how the process works but apparently he was fast tracked to get his this soon

Age may have been a consideration. Either way the old boy has been an absolute inspiration and I doff my cap in total respect to him.

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On 20/05/2020 at 09:18, BigTone said:

Isn't he now a Colonel?

 

An honorary colonelship is different to being a serving colonel.  You can't call yourself it in public, only when addressing the specific regiment you've been made honorary colonel of.

Nonetheless it's nice for Tom and his family. Well deserved. 

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1 hour ago, Red-Robbo said:

 

An honorary colonelship is different to being a serving colonel.  You can't call yourself it in public, only when addressing the specific regiment you've been made honorary colonel of.

Nonetheless it's nice for Tom and his family. Well deserved. 

Not being a military chap I was not aware. Best I did was a Seconder in Scouts before being kicked out for bad language.

Edited by BigTone
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1 minute ago, BigTone said:

Captain Sir Tom Moore aged 100.

Long my he be remembered.

RIP Sir

For all the money he raised I’m sure the nurses give everyone great care, but I hope they gave him extra, extra special care. 

A true Gentleman. RIP xx

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