The Nation Comes Out To Clap For Captain Sir Tom Moore

The UK came out in force to clap in honour of Captain Sir Tom Moore tonight.

Thousands of people up and down the country stood on their doorsteps to mark the life of the 100-year-old war hero, who passed away yesterday (2 February).

Prime Minister Boris Johnson proposed the gesture earlier today, asking people to mark Sir Tom's passing and show appreciation for NHS staff working on the frontline during the pandemic.

In a tweet, a spokesperson for Number 10 said: "Tonight at 6pm we will clap to honour the life of Sir @CaptainTomMoore and all those health workers who he recognised with his fundraising."

Sir Tom sadly passed away this week after being admitted to hospital with pneumonia and later contracting coronavirus.

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Due to him being treated for pneumonia, he was unable to receive the Covid vaccine.

His passing was announced by his two daughters, Hannah Ingram-Moore and Lucy Teixeira.

In a statement, the pair 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."

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"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."

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Sir Tom served in the British Army during the Second World War, having been posted in India and Burma, with his regiment participating in the Battle of Ramree Island.

He was later promoted to war-lieutenant on 1 October 1942 and later to temporary captain on 11 October 1944.

However, despite his bravery and having served his country with distinction, it wasn't until last year that he was recognised on a national stage when, to mark his 100th birthday, he decided to do 100 laps of his garden to raise money for the NHS during the first lockdown of the coronavirus pandemic.

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He went on to raise over £32 million, and in July 2020 he was knighted for his incredible efforts.

Topics: covid, army, Charity, Coronavirus, NHS, Health, Covid-19

Dominic Smithers

Dominic graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History. Like you, Dom has often questioned how much use a second language has been. Well, after stints working at the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express, along with never setting foot in France, he realised the answer is surprisingly little. But I guess, c'est la vie. Contact us at [email protected]

@SmithersDom