The Queen tonight led tributes to inspirational war veteran and fundraising hero Captain Sir Tom Moore after he died aged 100 after being admitted to hospital with coronavirus.
He had been a beam of light shining through the tragedies of the pandemic and raised more than £32 million for the NHS by walking 100 laps of his garden before his milestone birthday.
His optimistic tone and belief ‘Tomorrow will be a good day’ endeared him to fans around the world, from young to old and his death prompted tributes from figures including Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Today it was announced he had passed away peacefully in hospital, with his devoted family by his side.
The Queen this evening sent a message to Captain Tom’s grieving relatives and told of her joy at meeting him in person.
A statement from Buckingham Palace said: ‘The Queen is sending a private message of condolence to the family of Captain Sir Tom Moore.
‘Her Majesty very much enjoyed meeting Captain Sir Tom and his family at Windsor last year.
‘Her thoughts and those of the Royal Family are with them.’
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: ‘Captain Sir Tom Moore was a hero in the truest sense of the word. In the dark days of the Second World War he fought for freedom and in the face of this country’s deepest post war crisis he united us all, he cheered us all up, and he embodied the triumph of the human spirit.
‘It is quite astonishing that at the age of 100 he raised more than £32 million for the NHS, and so gave countless others their own chance to thank the extraordinary men and women who have protected us through the pandemic.
‘He became not just a national inspiration but a beacon of hope for the world. Our thoughts are with his daughter Hannah and all his family.’
Earlier Captain Tom’s daughters had announced the sad news that their father had passed away just after 4pm.
They said: ‘It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our dear father, Captain Sir Tom Moore.
‘We are so grateful that we were with him during the last hours of his life; Hannah, Benjie and Georgia by his bedside and Lucy on FaceTime. We spent hours chatting to him, reminiscing about our childhood and our wonderful mother. We shared laughter and tears together.
‘The last year of our father’s life was nothing short of remarkable. He was rejuvenated and experienced things he’d only ever dreamed of.
Inspirational war veteran and fundraising hero Captain Sir Tom Moore has died aged 100 after being admitted to hospital
His family announced Captain Tom had died at 4.05pm today with this social media post celebrating his life from 1920 -2021
The last picture: This was the final picture of Captain Tom, released by his family on January 18 with his loved ones around him
Captain Sir Tom Moore (pictured in April) became a national treasure during the first coronavirus lockdown after he raised more than £32 million for the NHS by walking 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday
Boris Johnson called Captain Tom ‘an inspiration to everybody in this country during this pandemic’ as he went into hospital
Captain Tom receiving his knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II during a ceremony at Windsor Castle. He raised almost £33m.
From Yorkshire to India: Colonel Tom Moore’s career in the military
Colonel Tom pictured during the Second World War. Boris Johnson described him as a national treasure during the Covid-19 crisis after raising almost £33million for the NHS
Captain Tom Moore was conscripted into the British Army in June 1940 when he was 20, alongside all men aged 20 to 35.
He began his military career in Otley, West Yorkshire, where he joined the 8th Battalion, the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment under Lieutenant Lord George Saville.
The Regiment was sent to train in Wadebridge, Cornwall where they were tasked with coastal defence amid a predicted German invasion.
A young Captain Moore was soon promoted to Corporal and sent to the officer cadet training unit in Droitwich Spa. Here, he celebrated his 21st birthday after he passed as a Second Lieutenant.
In August 1941, he was sent to the DWR headquarters in Halifax where he joined the 9th Battalion at Winchcombe.
The infantry battalion then converted to an armoured regiment 146th Royal Armoured Corp, though the majority of the soldiers could not drive.
Captain Moore is pictured front centre during his days in the Army. He joined the Armed Forces in 1940 when he was aged 20
In October, the unit was posted to Bombay, now Mumbai, in India. The journey took six weeks by sea, with a four-day delay in Freetown, Sierra Leone and a four-day stop in Cape Town.
Captain Moore then took a train from Bombay to Poona, before arriving at Kirkee, a town now known as Khadki.
The 9th DWR formed the 50th Indian Tank Brigade under the command of Brigadier Schreiber.
Captain Moore was then asked by the Brigadier to start a motorcycling course for the Brigade due to his expertise for the sport.
The Brigade was then ordered to move to Calcutta – the road journey was in a monsoon and took three weeks.
His Battalion was stationed in the Lohardaga district near Ranchi. They then took part in two exercises in the Arakan before moving further east and south to Rangoon.
Captain Moore was then sent on a course at the approved vehicle depot in Bovington, England. He remained here as an instructor until it was closed.
‘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.
‘The care our father received from the NHS and carers over the last few weeks and years of his life has been extraordinary. They have been unfalteringly professional, kind and compassionate and have given us many more years with him than we ever would have imagined.
‘Over the past few days our father spoke a great deal about the last 12 months and how proud he felt at being able to leave behind the growing legacy of his Foundation.
‘We politely ask for privacy at this time so we can grieve quietly as a family and remember the wonderful 100 years our father had. Thank you.’
On Sunday Hannah had revealed he had been battling pneumonia over the ‘past few weeks’ before also testing positive for Covid-19 a week ago.
The former serviceman – who was knighted in July – was then taken to Bedford Hospital in Bedfordshire on Sunday night after requiring ‘help with his breathing’, but was not put into intensive care.
Captain Tom had not been able to have the coronavirus vaccine because of the pneumonia.
Piers Morgan led tributes to the great man, posting online: ‘RIP Captain Sir Tom Moore, 100. A magnificent man. A national hero.
‘In our darkest hour since WW2, he rallied Britain with his resilience, courage and optimism. Let us all heed his mantra in our own lives: ‘Tomorrow will be a good day’. Thank you, Tom.’
Chancellor Rishi Sunak tweeted: ‘A proud Yorkshire man. A dedicated Army Officer. A tireless fundraiser. And above all, an inspiration to us all. Rest in peace Captain Tom.’
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: ‘This is incredibly sad news.
‘Captain Tom Moore put others first at a time of national crisis and was a beacon of hope for millions. Britain has lost a hero.’
Dylan Jones, editor in Chief of GQ, said: ‘Captain Tom was one of the heroes of 2020, and he was the first person we thought of celebrating when we started planning last year’s Men Of The Year Awards.
‘Not only was he the oldest person ever to grace our cover, he was one of the most gracious. He was a hero, a genuine old-fashioned hero, and I feel blessed that we were in his orbit, albeit for a very brief time.’
Top Gear presenter Paddy McGuinness tweeted: ‘I never knew Captain Sir Tom Moore personally but, like millions of others, it felt like I did.
‘He brought us together at a time when we needed it the most.
‘I’d smile whenever he popped up on the telly, he made me feel proud, optimistic and hopeful for the future. RIP Captain’.
Radio presenter Zoe Ball tweeted: ‘Captain Sir Tom Moore. Thank you for inspiring us all to do more to help our fellow humans.
‘You are forever in our hearts. May your star shine the brightest for your loved ones. RIP magical chap.’
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan tweeted: ‘Heartbroken to hear the news that Captain Sir Tom Moore has sadly passed away.
‘He was a true hero, in every sense of the word, and will be mourned by millions. My thoughts are with his family at this very difficult time.’
In a statement shared on Twitter, Liz Lees, chief nurse at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: ‘It has been our immense privilege to care for Captain Sir Tom Moore.
‘We share our deepest condolences and sympathies with his family and loved ones at this incredibly sad time.
‘We’d also like to say thank you, and pay tribute to Captain Sir Tom Moore for the remarkable contribution he has made to the NHS.’
Captain Tom, originally from Keighley, West Yorkshire, had been on a dream holiday to Barbados on December 11 after British Airways offered him free flights to the Caribbean. He had not been seen in public since the pre-Christmas break, but tweeted as he departed: ‘The support I have been shown in 2020 has given me renewed energy and today I get to tick something off my bucket list.’
Captain Tom Moore, with (left to right) grandson Benji, daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore and granddaughter Georgia
He was named GQ’s Inspiration of the Year 2020 and also scored a No. 1 single, wrote an autobiography and is helping to set up a charity
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that Captain Sir Tom was a hero in the truest sense of the world and a beacon of hope
Piers Morgan led tributes to the great man, posting online: ‘RIP Captain Sir Tom Moore, 100. A magnificent man.’
Buckingham Palace said: ‘The Queen is sending a private message of condolence to the family of Captain Sir Tom Moore.’
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: ‘This is incredibly sad news Captain Tom Moore put others first at a time of national crisis’
His incredible bravery and determination became a focus point for the millions of famillies suffering through Covid-19 and its heavy restrictions.
He became an iconic figure during the first coronavirus lockdown after he raised more than £32 million for the NHS by walking 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday.
The former army man had only set out to raise £1,000 from his lockdown charity challenge but his efforts struck a chord with the nation, and praise and donations flooded in.
Captain Tom’s daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore, a recruitment officer, from Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire, revealed the fundraising idea came about after her husband Colin challenged his father-in-law to to do 100 laps before his birthday.
Mrs Ingram-Moore revealed how her father had a fall in their kitchen at the end of 2018 and had bought himself a treadmill to rehabilitate after he fractured his hip.
The veteran came out with his walker one lockdown weekend and her husband said: ‘Carry on walking, Tom, we’ll give you a pound a lap. Do 100 by your 100th birthday.’
The family were forced to cancel his birthday party in April because of Covid-19 restrictions but set up a JustGiving page in the hope they would raise £1,000.
She told how the total went to £2,000 overnight and £12 million a month later after Sir Tom featured on BBC Breakfast and Michael Ball spoke to him on BBC Radio Two.
She described how the family were ‘not eating or sleeping’ to manage the technology, phone calls and emails while keeping the recruitment business going.
‘Dad could see we were so tired and he said: ”Should we make this stop? I’m worried for you.” It was a watershed moment,’ Mrs Ingram-Moore said.
She continued: ‘We said: ‘No, because what you are doing is having such a positive impact on people around the world. We just have to manage it.’
His fundraising led to a slew of personal honours and he was knighted by the Queen and also made an honorary army colonel.
The Royal honour would have seemed entirely unexpected for the 20-year-old who had been conscripted into the army back in 1940.
His career in the services saw him promoted to Corporal, then Second Lieutenant before a captain in 1944.
He served in India and the Burma campaign during the Second World War.
He had been enlisted into the eighth battalion of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment (8 DWR), an infantry unit that was converted to operate Churchill tanks as part of the Royal Armoured Corps (RAC).
Then after he was selected for officer training he rose to the rank of captain, later being posted to 9 DWR in India.
In his later military years he served and fought in the Arakan in western Burma and went with his regiment to Sumatra after the Japanese forces surrendered in 1945.
Afterwards he became an instructor in armoured warfare in Bovington, Dorset.
The MOD now has a page devoted to him on its website, calling him ‘An inspirational role model’
His dedication to service saw him wear his medals on his fundraising walks, explaining ‘It’s important. It shows that I was part of a very important and super army at the time who were all battling for our country, which we’re all so proud of.
‘I still very proud of our country. There is nowhere like ours.’
Captain Sir Tom Moore (pictured in his BA plane seat) and his family jetted off to Barbados after British Airways offered him free flight in December
Sir Tom Moore (pictured front) along with his grandchildren Benji (left), Georgia (middle left), his daughter Hannah (middle right) and her husband Colin Ingram (right) as they enjoyed the Barbados sunshine
he then Colonel Tom, aged 63, charm the audience as he chatted to the late Terry Wogan, while appearing on Blankety Blank
In July the Queen came out for her first official engagement since lockdown to knight him in person for his incredible achievement.
Windsor Castle saw a ‘unique ceremony’ where he had the honour bestowed upon him.
He said afterwards: ‘I am absolutely overawed.
‘This is such a high award and to get it from Her Majesty as well – what more can anyone wish for? This has been an absolutely magnificent day for me.’
Incredibly his fundraising fame was not the first time he had enjoyed the spotlight in front of millions of people.
An unearthed clip showed the then Colonel Tom, aged 63, charm the audience as he chatted to the late Terry Wogan, while appearing on Blankety Blank in 1983.
His good nature was clear as he made the host and audience laugh while telling them he was from a ‘good place’ called Tipps End.
He only managed to walk away with the consolation prize; its infamous chequebook and pen, after appearing on a Christmas special version of the programme.
But in recent times Captain Tom became GQ magazine’s oldest cover star and even scored a number one chart hit with Michael Ball in a charity recording of You’ll Never Walk Alone.
In an interview with the publication after his award, the veteran opened up about his 20-year first marriage, his beloved late wife Pamela’s battle with dementia, and how he wants to be there for ‘lonely people in need of help’.
He broke down as he discussed the moment he realised he would have to put his wife into a care home.
He told the magazine: ‘Taking her… she didn’t really know what we were doing. And I felt… I felt I was letting her down.
‘I realise it was the best that could be done. I realise my effort wasn’t enough.’
He also joked about installing two stair lifts at his home and how he enjoys ‘lots of sugar’ on his porridge every morning, ‘because cholesterol is the least of his worries at 100’.
Captain Sir Thomas Moore poses for the media after receiving his knighthood from the Queen at a ceremony at Windsor Castle in July
Captain Tom’s daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore, a recruitment officer, from Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire, revealed the fundraising idea came about after her husband Colin challenged his father-in-law to to do 100 laps before his birthday
The hero also wrote an autobiography and is helping to set up a charity.
He also launched a £35.95 bottle of gin, his own podcast and there is even a movie in the works after UK companies Fred Films and Powder Keg Pictures bought the rights to the feature about the former British Army captain.
The centenarian had smiled as he sat in a plane seat emblazoned with his name in a picture shared to his official Twitter page as he went to Barbados in his last public appearance.
Poignantly he revealed the flight ticked an item ‘off his bucket list’.
He said at the time: ‘I never thought that, at the age of 100, I would get to travel again. I’m so grateful to everyone who has made this possible. The support I have been shown in 2020 has given me renewed energy and today I get to tick something off my bucket list.’
The war hero who became a national treasure by walking 100 laps of his garden: How Captain Sir Tom Moore went from fighting in Burma to raising £33m for the NHS and being knighted by the Queen
Captain Sir Tom Moore’s death today aged 100 marks the close of an extraordinary life story – that of a former Yorkshire grammar school lad who stood up to serve his country at two of its moments of greatest peril.
The grandfather-of-four’s service in World War Two took him across Asia and the Far East, including tours in India, Burma and Sumatra.
His contribution during the coronavirus pandemic took him no further than his home in Bedford – but it was no less special for that.
Captain Tom’s plan to walk 100 laps of his back garden was first announced on an online fundraising page, but quickly caught the imagination of the British public.
Before long he had raised £33m for the NHS and was knighted by the Queen at a special ceremony at Windsor Castle – her first official engagement after lockdown lifted.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said his ‘heroic efforts have lifted the spirits of the entire nation’, the Duke of Cambridge praised him as a ‘one-man fundraising machine’ and he even released a charity single.
Colonel Tom pictured during the Second World War. Boris Johnson described him as a national treasure during the Covid-19 crisis after raising almost £33million for the NHS
Captain Tom was born in Keighley, West Yorkshire, on April 30 1920.
He attended Keighley Grammar School and later completed an apprenticeship as a civil engineer before joining the Army.
He enlisted into the eighth battalion of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment (8 DWR), an infantry unit that was converted to operate Churchill tanks as part of the Royal Armoured Corps (RAC).
In 1940, he was selected for officer training and rose to the rank of captain, later being posted to 9 DWR in India.
He served and fought in the Arakan in western Burma, since renamed Rakhine State, and went with his regiment to Sumatra after the Japanese surrender.
After the war, he returned to the UK and worked as an instructor at the Armoured Fighting Vehicle School in Bovington, Dorset.
He also worked for his family’s building company and later became manager at a concrete company.
In his free time he was a keen motorcycle racer and has admitted receiving a speeding fine while in his late 90s. He also appeared on popular BBC television quiz show Blankety Blank in 1983.
He wrote frankly about a sexless first marriage that ended in annulment.
Although Moore was 50 when they met, he had a 40-year marriage with his second wife, Pamela, and visited her every day while she was in a care home with dementia.
In a BBC interview, he spoke of his distress about her mental deterioration and pity for other residents who had no visitors.
After she died, he moved in with his daughter, Hannah, and his son-in-law Colin Ingram and grandchildren Benji and Georgia in the village of Marston Moretaine.
Captain Tom suffered a broken hip in 2018 and also required treatment for skin cancer of the head.
His family said this inspired him to do something to help the NHS, and he decided to walk 100 laps of his garden in Marston Moretaine before his 100th birthday to raise funds.
Captain Moore is pictured front centre during his days in the Army. He joined the Armed Forces in 1940 when he was aged 20
Captain Tom started his challenge in early April 2020 with the initial target of raising £1,000 for NHS Charities Together.
Ten days later, assisted by his walking frame, he had completed 100 laps and raised more than £20 million.
‘It really is absolutely enormous isn’t it?’ he said at the time.
‘That sum of money is very difficult to imagine but it’s coming in so well.’
He vowed to keep on walking laps of the 25-metre circuit, and did so until his birthday.
A long list of celebrities praised Captain Tom’s efforts, including David Walliams, Sir Mo Farah, Lewis Hamilton and Gary Lineker, along with politicians and royals including Health Secretary Matt Hancock and the Duke of Sussex.
In an interview with the magazine , Captain Tom opened up about his 20-year first marriage, his beloved late wife’s battle with dementia, and how he wants to be there for ‘lonely people in need of help
Captain Tom’s triumph sparked off an extraordinary few months for the veteran which saw him feted as a national treasure.
His cover of You’ll Never Walk Alone, together with singer Michael Ball, reached number one in the charts, making him the oldest artist ever to have a UK number one single.
A flypast of a Spitfire and a Hurricane marked his 100th birthday, and he was made an honorary colonel.
Speaking about the flypast, Captain Tom said: ‘I’m one of the few people here who’ve seen Hurricanes and Spitfires flying past in anger.
‘Fortunately today they’re all flying peacefully.’
He raised a total of £32.7 million, with donations from 1.5 million supporters, before his fundraising page was closed at midnight following his 100th birthday.
He started his challenge a little over three weeks earlier, and he encouraged people to continue to donate to NHS Charities Together.
Captain Tom rounded off 2020 with a trip to Barbados with his family, and his fundraising efforts were marked during the New Year drone display in London, as his figure appeared over the O2 Arena.
He was the guest of honour at the opening of the NHS Nightingale Hospital Yorkshire and the Humber in Harrogate, set up to help with increased numbers of hospital admissions during the pandemic, and he appeared by video link.
So many people sent him cards to mark his 100th birthday that a dedicated sorting office was set up at his grandson’s school.
He was sent more than 140,000 birthday cards, including a signed card from the Queen.
Captain Tom’s daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore, a recruitment officer, from Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire, revealed the fundraising idea came about after her husband Colin challenged his father-in-law to to do 100 laps before his birthday
Captain Sir Thomas Moore poses for the media after receiving his knighthood from the Queen at a ceremony at Windsor Castle in July
A train was named after him, he was awarded the Freedom of the City of London, and the postbox outside his village Post Office was painted NHS blue in honour of his efforts.
Captain Tom, who was a cricket fan, was also made an honorary member of the England cricket team.
‘People keep saying what I have done is remarkable, however it’s actually what you have done for me which is remarkable,’ he said at the time.
‘The past three weeks have put a spring back in my step.
‘I have renewed purpose and have thoroughly enjoyed every second of this exciting adventure.’
His daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore said on his 100th birthday: ‘I think we know that he has touched the hearts of many people around the world.
‘He’s definitely engaged us all and given us hope and unity.
‘So, there will be legacy.’
The Captain Tom Foundation was established by his family to ‘spread hope and ease loneliness’, and his Walk With Tom campaign had the same goal during England’s second lockdown in November 2020.
Captain Tom helped raise spirits during the coronavirus crisis, saying in one TV appearance: ‘To all those people who are finding it difficult at the moment: The sun will shine on you again, and the clouds will go away.’
His motto, which signed off many posts from his popular Twitter account, was ‘tomorrow will be a good day’.
Captain Tom died today aged 100.