Captain Tom Moore to be knighted for £33m fundraising feat

Captain Tom Moore is to be knightedCaptain Tom Moore is to be knighted
Captain Tom Moore is to be knighted | PA (Press Association)
Boris Johnson recommended Capt. Tom to be exceptionally honoured by the Queen.

Second World War veteran and NHS fundraiser Captain Tom Moore is to be knighted, Downing Street has announced.

The 100-year-old raised almost £33 million for health service charities by walking laps of his Bedfordshire garden.

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson described Sir Tom as a "true national treasure" and praised his "fantastic fundraising" which he said "provided us all with a beacon of light through the fog of coronavirus".

In April, Downing Street said Boris Johnson would ‘look at ways to recognise Tom for his heroic efforts’ after a Change.org petition to give him a knighthood reached 475,000 signatures.

Mr Johnson has now recommended Sir Tom be exceptionally honoured by the Queen, who has approved the honour, Number 10 said.

An investiture ceremony will take place at a later date.

His knighthood comes just weeks after he was made an honorary colonel to mark his centenary and fundraising efforts.

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As he is an honorary colonel, under Ministry of Defence protocol his official title will be Captain Sir Thomas Moore.

Sir Tom set out to walk 100 laps of his garden in Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire before his 100th birthday on April 30, and he completed the laps ahead of time.

His initial fundraising target was £1,000, but his determination captured the public imagination during the pandemic and within days he had raised tens of millions of pounds.

He also released a charity single, You'll Never Walk Alone, with singer Michael Ball, which reached number one in the charts, making him the oldest artist ever to have a UK number one single.

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Mr Johnson said: "Colonel Tom's fantastic fundraising broke records, inspired the whole country and provided us all with a beacon of light through the fog of coronavirus.

"On behalf of everyone who has been moved by his incredible story, I want to say a huge thank you. He's a true national treasure."

A Government spokeswoman added: "We know there is huge appetite to say thank you to all those supporting the nation during this emergency and doing incredible things day in, day out, up and down the country.

"We will ensure these unsung heroes are recognised in the right way, at the right time."

Additional reporting by the Press Association

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