The Queen has led tributes to Capt Sir Tom Moore, the second world war veteran who raised almost £39m for NHS charities during the first coronavirus lockdown in spring 2020, who has died aged 100 after testing positive for coronavirus.

In a statement, his daughters, Hannah Ingram-Moore and Lucy Teixeira, said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our dear father, Capt 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. 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.”

Moore was admitted to Bedford hospital on Sunday after having been treated for pneumonia for some time and testing positive for Covid-19 last week.

Tributes poured in for the man who acquired national treasure status in his last year.


The flag above No 10 was lowered to half-mast and councils were urged to fly their flags at half-mast on Wednesday as a mark of respect.

Boris Johnson spoke to Moore’s daughter, Hannah, to pass on his personal condolences.

In a video statement, the prime minister described him as “a hero in the truest sense of the word”. He said: “In the dark days of the second world war he fought for freedom and in the face of this country’s deepest postwar crisis he united us as well, he cheered us all up and he embodied the triumph of the human spirit.”

Johnson added: “He became not just a national inspiration but a beacon of hope for the world.”

The Queen was sending a private message of condolence, Buckingham Palace said. A spokesperson added: “Her Majesty very much enjoyed meeting Capt Sir Tom and his family at Windsor last year.

“Her thoughts, and those of the royal family, are with them, recognising the inspiration he provided for the whole nation and others across the world.”

The Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, tweeted: “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.’’

In the House of Commons, MPs momentarily stopped debating to recognise his passing.

Flags in Town Hall Square, Keighley, West Yorkshire, where Moore was born, were also lowered, with the local council also opening a virtual book of condolence.

The NHS, for which Sir Tom raised millions of pounds, tweeted: “Thanks for everything Sir Tom.” Liz Lees, chief nurse at Bedfordshire hospitals NHS foundation trust, tweeted that it had been an “immense privilege” to care for him.

The archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, described Moore as “the very best of us,” adding: “Where he walked a nation followed.”

DJ MistaJam in a tweet, described him as “a real beacon of light in such dark times and a reminder that we all have the power to make things better for each other if we truly are willing to put in the effort.”

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/feb/02/captain-sir-tom-moore-dies-at-100-after-testing-positive-for-covid