His sponsored walk has raised nearly £29million for NHS charities.
He’s topped the charts with a record, been immortalised in artworks and now Captain Tom Moore has a Pride of Britain gong to mark his incredible achievements.
That knighthood must surely be in the bag.
Everyone wants to thank the lovely old soldier who turns 100 this week, so I wouldn’t be surprised if someone offers to gold plate his walking frame as a birthday gift.
Because Tom is our talisman – the embodiment of the kindness, generosity and pride emerging in communities everywhere.
He’s the icon that helps us all to shine, by showing us that courage and determination really can make a difference.
It felt as if the entire nation cheered when he completed his 100 laps of the care home garden with a guard of honour from his old regiment.
And when the lockdown is over and the Queen dubs him Sir Tom and pins the ribbon to his already medal-filled chest, we’ll cheer again.
But I have no doubt Tom would give up every medal, plaudit and award to save the life of just one of the heroes who inspired HIM.
And yet they are still dying.
As I write this, 132 health staff have been killed by Covid-19, including NHS employees and an estimate of more than 15 care home workers, but the number continues to rise. Because they STILL don’t have enough PPE.
This week we learned that more than 8,000 UK firms had approached the Government offering to provide protective kit to the NHS but fewer than 200 had been hired.
So some firms are selling masks, respirators and other equipment abroad while we are flying it in from Singapore, China and Turkey.
Scandal
Why, in Tom’s name, has the Government failed to get a grip of this shameful, shambolic situation?
Health minister Lord Bethel told a committee of MPs that now is not “the time for apologies” over the PPE scandal.
But it’s bloody well time for ACTION .
And if the Government can’t sort it then let’s call in the Army’s logistics experts. They are ready, willing and eager to help.
In fact military chiefs are “appalled” and frustrated by the distribution debacle.
One senior source claimed this week that NHS logistics are “knackered” and “we’ve been surprised we’ve not been called in sooner”.
Now is the time for our young soldiers to march in.
To save the heroes Captain Tom has set out to help.
