Captain Tom Moore’s life to be celebrated with special April 30 event on what would have been his 101st birthday

A CELEBRATION of Captain Sir Tom Moore’s life is set to take place on April 30 – on what would have been his 101st birthday. The hero’s daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore said the event is to “celebrate his generosity of spirit, the hope and joy he brought to millions and his sense of fun”. She did […]

A CELEBRATION of Captain Sir Tom Moore’s life is set to take place on April 30 – on what would have been his 101st birthday.

The hero’s daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore said the event is to “celebrate his generosity of spirit, the hope and joy he brought to millions and his sense of fun”.

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She did not disclose full details of the event 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 £32 million for the NHS.

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

In a statement posted on her father’s official Twitter account, she said: “I would like to say an enormous thank you for the continuing support and compassion we’ve been shown over the last few weeks.

“It is helping us through a very difficult period.

“On Saturday we were able to give my father a fitting send-off adhering to his wishes in every way.

“We played music he loved, spoke words that filled us with joy and the addition of full military honours would have had him bursting with pride.”

She added: “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, the hope and joy he brought to millions and his sense of fun.”

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 War-era C-47 Dakota performing a flypast.

OUR HERO

The war veteran was laid to rest at the “beautiful” service.

The NHS fundraising hero received his own guard of honour and a spectacular RAF flypast after he passed away earlier this month.

Captain Tom’s family paid heartbreaking tributes to the grandad who became known as a “beacon of life and hope for the world” during the pandemic.

Six soldiers from the veteran’s regiment carried his coffin – draped in a Union Jack flag – into Bedford crematorium for a family service Captain Tom planned himself.

Both of the hero’s daughters spoke at the service, while his grandchildren read touching poems in honour of their grandfather.

Sir Tom’s daughter Lucy Teixeira fought back tears as she said her father “walked his way into the nation’s hearts”.

She said: “Daddy, you would always tell us ‘best foot forward’, and true to your word, that’s just what you did last year, raising a fortune for the NHS and walking your way into the nation’s hearts.”

Her voice broke as she added: “I am so proud of you – what you have achieved, your whole life and especially in the last year.

“You may be gone but your message and your spirit lives on.”

Daughter Lucy Ingram-Moore wept as she spoke of her life with her father, who moved in with her after her mother’s death.

“The loss of you is a dull physical ache for me, but the power of love you left us with allows us to stay strong,” she said.

“Our relationship cannot be broken by death.

“You will be with me always.”

She said watching her father turn into a “beacon of life and hope to the world” was “magical”.