Captain Tom Moore charity: Neighbours disappointed by report
"Captain Tom's Family Should Be Ashamed"
When the media rang the bell at the gates on Thursday, nobody answered at the house.
Captain Sir Tom Moore's remarkable fundraising activities brought a sense of pride to his neighbors during the pandemic. Journalists, politicians, and various notable figures flocked to the small Bedfordshire village of Marston Moretaine. Now, even after a recent report revealed that his family gained personally from his fame in the years since, does the community still hold on to that pride?
Marilyn Wright mentioned that Captain Sir Tom Moore put in a tremendous effort to gather £39 million for NHS Charities Together.
Marilyn Wright's garden is located right behind the house in Marston Moretaine, where the veteran resided with his daughter, son-in-law, and their two children.
The 74-year-old mentioned that she purchased his autobiography, Tomorrow Will Be a Good Day, because she believed the proceeds would benefit a charitable cause.
"I believe it's really disappointing. The family ought to feel embarrassed about their actions," she remarked.
"If they held onto the book's profits, that was definitely not right."
The house is available for sale at a price of £2.25 million.
"I believe they are relocating due to recent events," Ms. Wright remarked.
The villagers have a lot of affection for Capt Tom, but they've brought shame upon him.
Chelsea Moncur has been a resident of Marston Moretaine for roughly six years.
"I believe the funds shouldn't have gone to the family. I would have anticipated that the money would be directed towards a charitable cause," stated Chelsea Moncur, 31, a resident of the village for nearly six years.
"He's still an admirable figure, but you also hope to see that level of excellence in his family."
She expressed that if she were in their situation, she would prefer to donate it to charity.
Nigel Costin expresses that Captain Sir Tom earned the respect that he deserves, and he continues to hold him in high regard.
Nigel Costin, 77, who lives in Wootton Green, expressed that his opinion of Captain Sir Tom remains unchanged, in contrast to the tarnished reputation of the family.
"They were driven by greed," he remarked.
They weren't struggling financially from the beginning. They reaped the rewards of their father's dedication and effort.
He amassed a considerable amount of money, and they ought to have provided support from the profits of the book's sales.
They were allowed to keep a portion of it, but they ought to have donated a percentage to the charity, which was the reason for his presence there.
"It's akin to attempting to remove a medal from someone who has been awarded the Victoria Cross. It's simply impossible."
Joanne Ollier believes that the entire investigation has been disappointing.
Joanne Ollier mentioned that Captain Sir Tom provided her with a complimentary copy of his book.
The 41-year-old shared that her family was consistently engaged with the community and regularly contributed items to the care home where she was employed.
She stated that it would be wrong if the family had given false information about how the money from the book would be used.
A press announcement, several promotional materials, and the introduction of Capt Sir Tom's memoir all indicated that the proceeds from the books would help fund or generate donations for the foundation.
Ms. Ollier mentioned that the family wasn't as involved in the village as they used to be, and she acknowledged that some residents felt "let down" by them.
Ann Nevison mentioned that the community wished to lend their support to the family.
"It's really quite disheartening," remarked Ann Nevison, 69, who has been a resident of Marston Moretaine since 1995.
She points out that since Colin Ingram-Moore works as an accountant and his wife is a management consultant, they "ought to have been aware of the expectations."
"I feel that this has damaged the reputation of charities, and it has broader implications. I believe people will become more wary of charitable organizations."
The village was eager to stand by Hannah, her husband, and their family, but I believe that now many residents might feel torn about it.
Sam Barnes, a 34-year-old small business owner, shared with PA Media that the family became "overly ambitious."
On the other hand, neighbor James Ellis mentioned that he didn't see a problem with it if Captain Sir Tom wanted his family to retain the earnings. He felt that people were becoming a bit too grumpy about the situation.
"They've been entrusted with it, and it's what he wanted, right? In a sense, it's their legacy."
"They have already contributed more than enough."
On Thursday, no one was available at the Ingram-Moore residence, as the intercom at the entrance only connected to a voicemail system.