The flags above the British PM’s residence are lowered
to half mast to pay tribute to Captain Tom Moore who at the age of 100 died of
covid yesterday. Boris Johnson appealed to the British citizens to join the
national clap for him at 6 pm today.
A year ago, very few people knew Captain Moore, even
inside the UK. And yet he had the most remarkable year and died as a celebrity.
*****
Tom Moore was born on 30 April 1920. He served as a
British army officer in the second world war, with long stints in India and Burma.
Once the world was at peace, he worked for a cement company. In his youth, he
was an avid motorcycle racer. In 2018, following a fall, he was treated for a
broken hip, broken rib, punctured lung and other serious injuries. He also had
skin cancer. After a hip replacement and two knee replacements he used a
walker.
In the spring of 2020, England was in bad shape.
Hospitals were overwhelmed, morgues were full, Boris Johnson was in intensive
care. Shutdowns and sickness were depressing and frightening. Against this
background, a few days short of his 100th birthday, Captain Moore decided to start
his walking marathon. He announced he will walk up and down his garden every
day 100 times before his 100th birthday. Through this act, he wished to raise
funds for the NHS. He wanted to thank NHS for his treatment as well as
celebrate the health service in the time of crisis. Captain Moore was
interviewed on BBC Breakfast, where he said his target was raising £1000. “Remember,”
he said during the interview, “tomorrow is a good day, tomorrow you will maybe
find everything will be much better than today.” This man with experience of
one hundred years represented hope.
*****
What happened in the next few months is a fairytale.
Money started pouring in from all corners of the
kingdom, some from abroad. In total 1.5 million people donated to raise £39
million ($ 54 million),
With the British singer Michael Ball, Captain Moore
sang a song “You’ll never walk alone”. The single topped the UK music charts,
and Captain Moore entered the Guinness World Records by being the oldest singer
to top the charts.
On 30 April, his centenary, Royal mail had to allocate
twenty employees to sort out the 150,000 greeting cards sent to him. Royal Mail
postmarked each envelope with a special stamp: “Happy 100th birthday Captain Thomas
Moore NHS fundraising hero 3oth April 2020”.
The Queen sends a congratulatory letter on the 100th
birthday to every British citizen. She not only wrote to him, but promoted him
to the rank of colonel. Then, on popular demand, on 17 July, Queen Elizabeth
came out of isolation for the first time to make him Sir. During the TV interview,
Captain Moore said he will not kneel before the queen. Because if he did, he
will never get up again. The queen used her father’s long sword to touch his
shoulders, a ritual to award the knighthood. Prince William called him ‘a one
man fundraising machine.’
He had his sense of humour intact. In September, it
was decided a biopic will be produced on his life. “I don’t know any actor who
is 100 years old. But Michael Caine or Anthony Hopkins would do a wonderful job
if they don’t mind to age up.” He said.
British Airways offered him free tickets to Barbados.
He and his family enjoyed, what turned out to be his last vacation, in December
2020.
*****
Captain Moore showed how optimism, hope and energy can
inspire the world. Age is no bar.
Ravi
Yes age & your health is no bar
ReplyDeleteIt was amazing!
ReplyDeleteRESPECT AND SALUTE!
ReplyDelete