The nation honoured a remarkable man this morning as Captain Tom Moore celebrated his 100th birthday. Her Majesty The Queen also marked the occasion by approving the appointment of Tom as Honorary Colonel of the Army Foundation College in Harrogate technically making Captain Tom – Colonel Tom.
General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith, Chief of the General Staff made the appointment on behalf of The Queen and commented, “On behalf of the Army, I’d like to wish Captain Tom Moore a very happy 100th birthday and congratulate him on his heroic achievement in raising over £29 million for the NHS.”
Just received a rather special birthday card from Her Majesty The Queen @RoyalFamily pic.twitter.com/jqIxpVFBRH
— Captain Tom Moore (@captaintommoore) April 30, 2020
At the time of writing this piece, the total amount raised for the NHS has now risen to over £31 million.
The RAF also honoured Colonel Tom’s 100th birthday with a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast of a Hurricane and Spitfire.
Secretary of State for Defence, Ben Wallace, said, “Captain Tom is simply inspirational and I am absolutely delighted the Army has honoured him in such a fitting manner. Ahead of VE Day 75, it is fitting that we are once again looking to the Second World War generation to show us the way.”
In proceedings broadcast on BBC Breakfast on Thursday morning, Captain Tom spoke of his milestone birthday, “Reaching 100 is quite something. Reaching 100 with such interest in me and huge generosity from the public is very overwhelming. People keep saying what I have done is remarkable, however it’s actually what you have done for me which is remarkable. Please always remember, tomorrow will be a good day.”
In April alone, Colonel Tom has raised a remarkable amount of money for the NHS, recorded a Number One single with Michael Ball, been made an honorary cricket player by former England captain, Michael Vaughan and even been presented with a Pride of Britain Award.
The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, even sent a special video message to Colonel Tom on his 100th birthday.
Another highlight of Colonel Tom’s birthday was the special telegram he received from Her Majesty The Queen which will go nicely alongside the 150,000 other birthday cards that Tom has received from people across the nation and indeed the world.