Captain Sir Tom Moore’s spirit lives on, family tells funeral service
Video report by ITV News Correspondent Paul Davies
The family of Captain Sir Tom Moore have paid tribute to the veteran and NHS charity fundraiser at his funeral, saying his “message and his spirit lives on”.
Sir Tom’s coffin, draped in a union flag, was carried to the crematorium on Saturday by soldiers from the Yorkshire Regiment while a Second World War-era C-47 Dakota performed a flypast.
This was followed by a firing party of 14 each firing three rounds in unison before a small service got under way.
Watch the funeral service in full
The service, at Bedford Crematorium, was attended by eight members of Sir Tom’s immediate family – his two daughters Hannah Ingram-Moore and Lucy Teixeira, four grandchildren and his sons-in-law – all wearing masks.
It opened with the charity single Sir Tom recorded with Michael Ball and the NHS Voices of Care Choir, You’ll Never Walk Alone, which reached number one in the UK singles charts in April last year.
His daughter Ms Teixeira, 52, then paid tribute to Sir Tom, who captured the hearts of the nation with his fundraising efforts during the first coronavirus lockdown when he walked 100 laps of his Bedfordshire garden before his 100th birthday, raising more than £38 million for the NHS.
The new high total was revealed during the service.
She said: “Daddy, you always told us ‘best foot forward’ and true to your word that’s what you did last year, raising a fortune for the NHS and walking your way into the nation’s hearts.”
Ms Teixeira added: “Daddy, I am so proud of you, what you achieved your whole live and especially in the last year.
“You may be gone but your message and your spirit lives on.”
Daughter Ms Ingram-Moore also said: "In the last days and hours we had together, you talked with pride about the lasting legacy of hope people said you had created, brought to life with the foundation in your name.
"You declared to me and the nursing staff that you had a lot more fundraising in you and you will be back as soon as you felt better.
"We are also proud of everything you have achieved and promise to keep your legacy alive. Thank you for all the special times we've shared. Our relationship cannot be broken by death. You will be with me always."
Grandson Benjie Ingram-Moore also spoke about the time he spent with his grandfather: "The places we got to go and the things we got to see together I know filled your heart with joy to know that we did it as a family. I could not have asked for a better last year to spend with you.
"I cannot thank you enough for everything you've done for me. You've been the most incredible grandfather, mentor and most importantly, a friend. I will do everything I can to live up to the standards you have set and promise to continue the incredible legacy you have left."
Sir Tom died at Bedford Hospital on February 2 after testing positive for Covid-19.
The funeral cortege of Captain Sir Tom Moore set off from his home in Marston Moretaine at 11.30am.
The message of the funeral service was that "Captain Tom's spirit will continue on", reports ITV News Correspondent Paul Davies
A number of special items were placed on Sir Tom’s coffin, including a replica of his service cap from the Second World War, a wreath from the Yorkshire Regiment, his campaign medals, including the Burma Star, and his knighthood medal stitched on to a cushion.
There is also a specially-commissioned sword engraved with the motto of the Yorkshire Regiment on one side – “Fortune favours the brave” – and his own personal motto, “Tomorrow will be a good day”, on the other.
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Singer Michael Buble has also recorded a version of the song Smile to be played at the funeral, along with The White Cliffs Of Dover by Dame Vera Lynn, I Vow To Thee My Country by Alife Boe and My Way by Frank Sinatra.
Members of the public were asked to stay at home and not attend the funeral, but many thousands of people have signed an online book of condolence instead.
In acknowledgement of his fundraising, Sir Tom was knighted by the Queen during a unique open-air ceremony at Windsor Castle in summer 2020.
Sir Tom’s 100th birthday celebrations last year included a Spitfire flypast and he was photographed punching the air as it went past.
The fundraiser served with the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment during the Second World War.
The regiment later merged with two others from Yorkshire, becoming the Yorkshire Regiment, and Sir Tom was made an honorary colonel last August.
A bugler sounded The Last Post at the end of the private service.
Six representatives from the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, where Sir Tom was made an honorary colonel, then formed a ceremonial guard.
There are plans to plant trees around the world in his honour, with Ms Teixeira hoping the Trees for Tom initiative will result in a wood in his home county of Yorkshire and the reforestation of part of India, where he served during the Second World War.
Sir Tom asked that his epitaph reads: “I told you I was old”, in reference to comedian Spike Milligan’s famous epitaph: “I told you I was ill.”
Once Covid-19 restrictions permit, the family will inter Sir Tom’s ashes in Yorkshire, with his parents and grandparents in the Moore family plot.