Now that he's received an honorary promotion I'm wondering if he'll get an increase in his Army Pension? I hope he does - he's, certainly, earned it!
I'm really sorry to say this, but ... ... it's time to calm it down with all of this imo. BBC and ITV breakfast shows are virtually fighting over him, to take some of the credit for the amount raised, and some of the tributes are becoming ridiculous. There was a 10 minute interview with two women yesterday, showing his birthday cards laid out in a room. There seems to be an element of bandwagon jumping that's slightly cheesy, Michael Ball springs to mind. What Tom did was admirable, what was donated was wonderful, but there have been people all over the country doing things like this week in week out for years. The bloke is a hero but this is starting to tip over into something that will taint what he's done. Let him sit back and bask in it now. I really hope that he's not paraded around cricket grounds, F1 venues, etc when all of this is over.
I know takeaway Branson's knighthood and give one to Tom Moore... That will cheer the whole country up!
Tbh mate, kighthoods are meaningless ... ... as you say there are endless wasters like Branson, Saville, etc who don't deseserve a Blue Peter badge let alone a knighthood.
Captain Tom was born during the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-20 that killed up to 50m people worldwide. 100 years later and Captain Tom resurfaces with another pandemic. Not saying that there's a connection here, but it looks a bit suspicious to me.
Couldn't agree more Smug, this has been done to death, his families idea has turned from rags to riches and that's brilliant. His giving page closed yesterday so please can we all get back to reporting proper news stories.
They never did to start with unfortunately. P.R. for the tories almost to a man. We rail about politicions in general and their total lack of ethics or principles - the same can be said of our press.
I have to disagree to some extent. It has been one of the few good news stories to come out of this world wide crisis. I just don't get why some see this as a political PR stunt. He has helped raise £30+M for the NHS on the run up to his 100th Birthday FFS.
Absolutely. Its ridiculous to consider this some kind of stunt. Old man decides he wants to do whatever he can during this crisis. Fortunately for him and for the rest of us, it catches the public imagination and it generates millions for the NHS. It gave us all a figurehead to rally behind when we needed one. And what's more, a completely apolitical one, for those saying it's a Tory PR stunt. What's not like to about it? Personally, it just gives me more admiration for his generation which knew how to cope in adversity, over my own, which is whinging cos it has to stay indoors for a bit.
There only seems to be Noggie referring to this (wrongly) as a P.R. stunt, mind (and it's got f.a. to do with the Tories)
Im certainly not saying what he's done was a stunt, it's exactly as it appears. What I find poor is the breakfast news, on both major channels, virtually fighting over him and claiming their influence made all the difference. I like what Tom did, I don't like people jumping on the bandwagon ... .... simple as that.
I've just watched on BBC, Princess Charlotte delivering 'care packages' in her neighbourhood . . . . now that's a publicity stunt I wonder how many people where she lives are in need
I must say that I agree with what you've posted. Unfortunately there have always been individuals and (more recently) companies/corporations who will try to associate themselves with those who have, genuinely, earnt the goodwill/respect of people. They are, normally, nothing but 'nomarks' who will never replicate the warmth that is generated by the instigator of the deed and (I think) most people will recognise them for what they are - bandwagon jumpers.
We had an email from one of Mrs Smug's family asking us to sign her petition to have Tom knighted. "PLEASE sign this, I'm working night and day to try to make this happen." No love, you're sitting on yer arse sending messages on a laptop ... ... try knocking on the door of old people in your street, and ask if they need any shopping done. You won't get your name in the local paper, but it'll achieve a lot more than latching onto some old fella that you'll never meet.