A national clap for Captain Sir Tom Moore is taking place this evening.
The 100-year-old veteran, who captured the hearts of the nation with his NHS fundraising, died in Bedford Hospital on Tuesday morning after testing positive for coronavirus.
Since the announcement of Captain Moore's death, tributes have poured in - where he has been described as 'a hero in the truest sense of the word'.
Now, members of the public are being encouraged to join a national clap to honour his life at 6pm on Wednesday, February 3.
Confirming the moment of remembrance, the Prime Minister said Captain Moore dedicated his life to serving others.
Boris Johnson told the Commons: “We all now have the opportunity to show our appreciation for him and all that he stood for and believed in.
“That is why I encourage everyone to join in a national clap for Captain Tom and all those health workers for whom he raised money at 6pm this evening.”
The House of Commons earlier this morning observed a minute’s silence in Captain Moore's memory and others who have lost their lives as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said of Sir Tom: “His dignity and determination in raising money to support the NHS charities caught the nation’s mood at the most difficult time.
“He exemplified the best of our values.”
Sir Tom's daughters Hannah Ingram-Moore and Lucy Teixeira announced their father's death on Tuesday, and hailed the last year of his life as “nothing short of remarkable”.
“He was rejuvenated and experienced things he’d only ever dreamed of”, they said.
In a statement, the pair said: “We are so grateful that we were with him during the last hours of his life; Hannah, Benjie and Georgia by his bedside and Lucy on FaceTime."
They added: “Whilst he’d been in so many hearts for just a short time, he was an incredible father and grandfather, and he will stay alive in our hearts forever.”
