Captain Sir Tom Moore has died after testing positive for COVID-19. The centenarian raised over £32m for NHS charities by walking 100 laps of his garden in Marston Moretaine during the first lockdown.
The army veteran was admitted to Bedford Hospital after requiring help with his breathing on Sunday. Captain Sir Tom was being treated for pneumonia and last week tested positive for COVID-19.
In a statement announcing his passing, Captain Sir Tom’s daughters Hannah Ingram-Moore and Lucy Teixeira 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.
“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.”
They added that the care he received from the NHS was “extraordinary” and praised staff for being “unfalteringly professional, kind and compassionate”.
Captain Sir Tom was knighted by the Queen last year at Windsor Castle. Buckingham Palace said the monarch is sending a private message of condolence to his family.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “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, recognising the inspiration he provided for the whole nation and others across the world.”
His fundraising achievement inspired the nation—and he went on to break two Guinness World Records – becoming the oldest person to get a No 1 single in the UK charts, when he performed ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ with Michael Ball, and raising the most money for doing a solo charity walk.
He joined the Army at the outbreak of World War II, serving in India and Myanmar (then known as Burma). After the war, he worked as an instructor at the Armoured Fighting Vehicle School in Dorset, before moving to Bedfordshire in 2007 to be near his family.
