Captain Tom Moore’s uplifting fundraising walk has inspired talented people to take steps to immortalise him.
Some brilliant and unusual artwork has been created to honour the Second World War veteran.
Capt Tom, who turns 100 next week, has raised £28million for the NHS by completing 100 laps of his garden in Marston Moretaine, Beds, with the help of his walking frame.
Nine-year-old Olivia-Mae Cash and dad Craig, of Horncastle, Lincs, used over 100 balloons to create a life-size model of the ex-Army officer.
The duo, whose masterpiece took three hours, said they “wanted to spread some smiles like Capt Tom”.
They weren’t the only ones who dug deep – one creation was made from mud. Ricky Minns, of Norfolk, who creates artwork under the name Ruddy Muddy, fashioned his grimy tribute on the back of a van.
Capt Tom has been going the extra mile in his native Yorkshire. Graeme Bandeira, cartoonist for the Yorkshire Post, drew him and the image ended up on a bus there. Capt Tom was born and raised in Keighley.
Nathan Wyburn, of Ebbw Vale, in Blaenau Gwent, also used his feet.
He said: “He’s captured the nation’s hearts... by walking round his garden. I wanted to replicate it by using footprints and walking through paint.”
Northampton artist Sam Bailey used over 600 epaulettes donated by emergency services staff to create a 9ft-tall tribute. And a mural has appeared on a pub in Pontefract, West Yorks, thanks to Rachel List.
While artist Sophie Edwards, 23, spent around 20 hours drawing Capt Tom. Sophie, from Derby, said: “It took me three days but he deserves it.”
Capt Tom has been sent so many birthday cards Bedford School has been used to display over 40,000 of them.
