Captain Tom villagers ‘embarrassed’ over tarnished legacy of national hero
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It has been a little over four and a half years since Captain Sir Tom Moore achieved an incredible fundraising milestone that is unmatched in history.
The perseverance and resolve of the war veteran to complete 100 laps in his backyard during the height of the lockdown resonated with people across the country. His efforts garnered widespread support and raised £39 million for NHS charities.
A year later, following his passing, the nation was engulfed in grief. Former health secretary Matt Hancock urged the UK to "honor the legacy" of Britain's Covid hero as demands for a statue increased.
However, a trip to the now-famous site of the remarkable fundraiser—Captain Tom’s Old Rectory in the Bedfordshire village of Marston Moretaine—reveals almost no indication that his extraordinary accomplishment ever occurred.
Villagers express sadness over the damaged reputation of the individual, as a long-awaited report released on Thursday reveals that his family gained financially from a charity established in his honor.
The Charity Commission discovered that a company managed by his daughter, Hannah Ingram-Moore, and her husband, Colin Ingram-Moore, received nearly £1.5 million for three of his books, which featured his popular autobiography.
The couple also misused the charity's name for personal gain by applying for planning permission to construct a foundation building in the backyard of their gated property. This building was later completed and featured a spa pool and a home cinema.
The Ingram-Moores, who have recently put their family home on the market, received a court order to tear down the property this year due to community backlash.
"We felt a strong sense of pride in Captain Tom's accomplishments; it really brought us recognition," remarked Ian Knight, a 51-year-old worker who has been a resident of Marston Moretaine for 45 years.
“Honestly, we feel quite ashamed about everything that has unfolded, and we can’t wait for them to leave. We’re looking forward to putting this behind us and moving on.”
Mr. Knight had wished for a memorial plaque to honor Captain Tom to be put up in the village, which has just a little over 6,000 residents.
The only things visible near the boundary walls and fences of the family residence are a banner promoting a care home and a sizable warning sign discouraging the use of drones above the property.
At the Millbrook train station, located a mile away, there's a special bench honoring Captain Tom. More than 150 miles away, you can find a statue of him outside Chapel Allerton Hospital in Leeds, West Yorkshire, which is the county where he was born.
"It’s truly unfortunate. What he accomplished was remarkable—he helped countless people cope during the Covid lockdown. He has had no part in what has happened since then, yet we’ve been dealing with it for two to three years. Folks in this area are eager to move forward and leave it all behind," Mr. Knight expressed.
Even though the unauthorized structure is no longer present in the backyard of the family home—it was demolished in February—it seems that not much has altered in the village compared to nine months ago.
On the afternoon before the Charity Commission report is released, parents wait in their cars to stay warm as they pick up their kids from the nearby primary school, while a handful of early patrons relax inside The Bell pub.
Some windows already have Christmas fairy lights shining brightly.
Michael Fisher, 50, resides in a row house that overlooks Captain Tom's backyard. He recalls the fundraiser as he completed the laps and then later watched the event on TV from the comfort of his living room.
“They tend to stay away from others – I’ve only spotted them a few times, and I think one of those instances was on television,” he mentioned.
"I believe they will want to advance from this situation, especially after the negative reactions they've received. They aren't viewed in the same positive way as they were back when Captain Tom managed to raise so much money from his garden."
"It's unfortunate because none of this is related to him... it's his reputation that's taking a hit."
A nearby couple, who preferred to remain anonymous, mentioned that the family exhibited what they referred to as "Lord of the Manor syndrome."
The man I talked to mentioned that taking down the foundation building provided some comfort, but he shared his thoughts on the Ingram-Moores: “Honestly, I don't feel they care at all about the village. Whether they are liked or disliked doesn't really matter, does it? But that’s all in the past now.”
The family has received support from certain people.
Local resident Mark Brighton, 60, commented, "They acted in a certain way and faced the consequences – now it seems like people are overreacting about it."
"The valuable insights have been gained. Some individuals thought they could evade consequences in planning the Captain Tom Foundation building simply because they had money."
"I can't say I'm shocked that they want to leave and move forward."
The Independent reached out to Hannah Ingram-Moore and her partner for their feedback.
In reaction to the Charity Commission report, they described the investigation as "unfair and overly harsh."
They stated: “We are committed to honoring Captain Sir Tom's legacy and want everyone to be aware that there has never been any misuse of funds or unauthorized withdrawals from the charity's bank account by any family member.”
