Page 44 - RADC Bulletin 2021

ACHIEVEMENTS
A Walking Legend
Maj A Armer
The word legend is often overused these days, but in the recent past there are few more deserving of such status than Captain Sir Thomas Moore.
Born in Keighley, Yorkshire, on 30th April 1920, Tom was conscripted into the British Army in 1940. Joining the Royal Armoured Corps, he saw action in Burma and rose to the rank of Captain. He maintained his Army ties, organising annual reunions for veterans of his battalion for 65 years. The rest of his working life was spent working for a building company and later a concrete manufacturer. In his spare time, he enjoyed riding motorcycles and was an accomplished racer too, winning many trophies.
When the coronavirus pandemic struck, and with the nation in lockdown, Captain Tom wanted to give something back to the healthcare staff putting their lives on the line for all of us. His initial plan was
to complete 100 laps of his garden, with
the aid of a walking frame, branding the endeavour “Tom’s 100th Birthday Walk for the NHS”. He hoped to raise £1,000 for NHS charities. He quickly realised this initial goal, and as word spread of his challenge, more people around the world began to donate with his fundraising target rising to £5,000 then £500,000. When the media became involved, more donations began to flood in because Captain Tom inspired the nation. He achieved his target of 100 laps on 16 April alongside a guard of honour from the
Yorkshire Regiment. His donation page closed on the day of his 100th Birthday, after raising a record amount of money, over £32 million (nearly £39 million including giftaid).
Before the pandemic, I doubt any readers had heard of Captain Tom Moore, but he quickly captured the nations heart. When he set out walking laps around his garden, he could not have known what the next
few months had in store for him. Plaudits and accolades were showered upon him.
A Knighthood by the Queen, a number one single, an honorary doctorate of science, freedom of Keighley and the City of London, a Pride of Britain award and featured on the front cover of GQ magazine to name just a few. In many ways, Captain Tom became the face of 2020.
On 3rd August 2020 Captain Tom visited the Army Foundation College (AFC) in Harrogate in his capacity as the college’s first Honorary Colonel. The visit began with an official photo, I had the honour of being
selected to stand in the photo with Captain Tom and other AFC staff. Captain Tom
then addressed some Junior Soldiers (JS), before being awarded his Honorary Colonel rank slide. I have it on good authority he treasured it more than his coveted Gold Blue Peter Badge!
After light refreshments, Captain Tom
was given the option to be driven round to college HQ, but not wanting to disappoint the neatly formed up JS, he opted to walk the entire length of the central walkway, from the parade square, stopping to chat with many JS along the way. When he reached the end, he was greeted by his family and the CO, who presented him with a framed copy of the official photo taken earlier that day. After final goodbyes, Captain Tom and his family were whisked away; all AFC personnel
were honoured to have been part of a truly special visit. Captain Tom returned to AFC just six weeks later as the guest of honour, inspecting the JS during their graduation parade.
Captain Tom sadly passed away on
2nd February 2021. His final year of life
was no doubt his most conspicuous. His memory will live on through his foundation (captaintom.org) and the countless individuals he helped inspire. At AFC, the central walkway, from college headquarters to the parade square, has been renamed the Col Sir Tom Moore Walk in his honour.
Captain Sir Tom was an optimist throughout his life, and it seems fitting to end with his daily motto, ‘Tomorrow will be a good day...’
42 RADC BULLETIN 2021