The most touching Twitter tributes to Captain Tom on his 100th birthday
Captain Tom Moore, the war veteran who walked laps of his garden to raise money for the NHS, has turned 100, as his fundraiser exceeds £30 million.
People across the nation are now celebrating his birthday, along with his huge fundraising achievement, as the country remains under lockdown.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe veteran has received over 140,000 birthday cards from well wishers across the country, including a personalised card from the Queen, as well as a written congratulations from the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.
Additionally, to honour his achievement and celebrate the day, Capt Tom has been made an honorary colonel of the Army Foundation College - a promotion approved by the Queen.
He has also been treated to a Spitfire and a Hurricane fly-past above his home, orchestrated by the RAF.
Birthday messages to Captain Tom on Twitter
Captain Moore took to Twitter to share his excitement around turning 100 and to reveal his personalised card from the Queen to his 268, 600 followers.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“100 years young today. Looking forward to a day of celebration with the family. Today will be a good day! one of his posts reads.
In addition to his numerous handwritten cards, the newly appointed honorary colonel has received countless congratulatory messages on social media.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson recorded a special message, which he uploaded to his Twitter account, calling the veteran "a point of light in all our lives".
"I know I speak for the whole nation when I say we wish you a very happy 100th birthday," Mr Johnson said.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad"Your heroic efforts have lifted the spirits of the entire nation, you've created a channel to enable millions to say a heartfelt thank you to the remarkable men and women in our NHS who have all been doing the most outstanding job."
In response to Mr Johnson’s birthday message, Capt Tom said it was "really outstanding" to get a message from the prime minister.
NHS Charities Together joined the well wishers on Twitter to thank Moore for his fundraising efforts, as the total reached £30 million.
“He’s done it! A £30 MILLION milestone occasion. Thank you for all you have done #HappyBirthdayCaptainTom,” the post reads.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe Royal Marines uploaded a video on its Twitter Account to wish the centenarian a happy birthday.
Speaking to the camera, one marine wishes the veteran a “happy 100th birthday” from “all of the Royal Marines band service”, before a Band of HM Royal Marines proceeds to play ‘Happy Birthday’.
Meanwhile, the British Army took to twitter to congratulate the veteran on his newly appointed title.
“Congratulations on your promotion to Honorary Colonel of AFC Harrogate, our training facility for new recruits, long may you inspire our future soldiers”.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdSeveral British celebrities have also joined the masses congratulating Capt Tom on Twitter, such as footballer Gary Lineker and comedian Johnny Vegas.
“Happy 100th Birthday Colonel Tom Moore. A special day for a very special man. Well played,” Lineker wrote.
While Johnny Vegas wished Capt Tom a “Happy 100th Birthday.”
“Thank you for proving that decency, fundamental generosity of spirit & the ability to inspire the best in others never retires,” the comedian wrote.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“Like fine wine, as the older adage goes, it just improves with age. Bless ya this day & many more to come.”
One Twitter user, who lives near Capt Tom, caught the RAF fly over marking the veteran’s birthday on video, and congratulated him on turning 100.
While other members of the public have been getting creative to mark the occasion.
One person on Twitter painted Capt Tom’s portrait, which she intends to send to him as a gift.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdIn Northern Ireland, a couple of murals of Capt Tom have sprung up.
What has been Captain Tom’s response?
Captain Tom is spending the majority of his birthday self-isolating at his home in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, with his daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore and her family.
Responding to his many birthday messages, Capt Tom has said it was "extraordinary" to be turning 100, especially with so many well-wishers.
"Reaching 100 is quite something. Reaching 100 with such interest in me and huge generosity from the public is very overwhelming," he said.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdAddressing the amount of praise he has received, the veteran said, "People keep saying what I have done is remarkable, however it's actually what you have done for me which is remarkable.
"Please always remember, tomorrow will be a good day."
How else is Captain Tom's 100th birthday being honoured?
In addition to many birthday messages, the nation is celebrating Captain Tom’s birthday in the following ways:
The Royal Mail has unveiled a special blue and gold post box in Capt Tom's honour in Bedford Road, close to his home.
The postal service has also relieved a special Royal Mail postmark, and all stamped post up is being marked with the message, "Happy 100th Birthday Captain Thomas Moore NHS fundraising hero 30th April 2020’, until Friday (1 May).
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe Great Western Railway intercity express train 800025 has been named after the centenarian and will go into service on Thursday.
The fundraising champion has also been made an honorary England cricketer by former captain, Michael Vaughan.
An aircraft from the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar, an airstrip near Croydon, is set to fly on a circuit around Biggin Hill Airfield on Thursday evening (30 Apr) to honour Capt Tom at the same time as the nation’s weekly Clap for Carers.
The newly appointed colonel was also presented with a replacement Second World War Defence Medal, ahead of the VE Day celebrations next week.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdCapt Tom is also celebrating his birthday as a UK chart-topper, after singing a duet of You'll Never Walk Alone with Michael Ball. The duet has made him the oldest person to ever achieve a number one single in the UK.
How much has Captain Tom raised?
The centenarian decided to start his fundraiser "for the sake of the nurses and the NHS we have, because they are doing such a magnificent job".
He initially aimed to raise a total of £1,000 on Just Giving for NHS Charities Together, by completing 100 25 metre laps of his garden with the help of his zimmer frame, before his 100th birthday.
However, just two days after completing the challenge, on 16 April, he had raised a whopping total of £20 million, from nearly one million people around the world.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdWith his birthday celebrations well under way, the grand total has now topped £30 million.
Upon hitting the £30 million mark, Capt Tom tweeted a message of thanks to his followers.
His Just Giving page is still live but will close at midnight on Thursday 30.