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Original poster

Captain Tom 😢

327 replies

StCharlotte · 02/02/2021 16:21

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-55881753

He did more in his last year than most of us manage in a lifetime.

Truly a life well lived.

OP posts:
Thedogscollar · 03/02/2021 10:41

@joystir59
Your post reflects the character you truly are.

For all who have posted kind thoughts on here for a man who was so optimistic about life. Let his words only remain in your head that "tomorrow will be a better day"

Forget the handful of nasty comments they are more to be pitied than anything else.

Quaagars · 03/02/2021 12:24

(Let his words only remain in your head that "tomorrow will be a better day"*

I love this quote, and his optimism, makes you feel that little bit brighter and more hopeful.

Forget the handful of nasty comments they are more to be pitied than anything else

Very true

Quaagars · 03/02/2021 12:24

Bold fail Blush

ShemShem · 03/02/2021 13:27

@AlternativePerspective

TBH I think the fact it was COVID is what makes this more poignant.

To have made COVID such a big part of his drive over the past year, to have walked to raise the money specifically because of COVID and then to become a victim of it, must almost feel like being cheated. Iyswim.

This is why people are touched by the fact he died, because he was so present and represented so much of what is going on right now.

It's not known if it was COVID...

He died of pneumonia

justasking111 · 03/02/2021 13:33

Think of donation to his foundation....captaintom.org/

AlternativePerspective · 03/02/2021 14:10

It's not known if it was COVID... you were there presumably?

He had COVID. Pneumonia is often associated with COVId. Stop being deliberately obtuse. Fact is, he died with COVID, and COVID was still a huge part of his drive.

And I suspect there was a lot more known here because his family came in to have their last moments with him, and he wasn’t in ICU, so I suspect that maybe he had a DNR or similar

Spidey66 · 03/02/2021 14:30

Pneumonia is often secondary to something else. It's often secondary to flu. It's quite plausible it was secondary to COVID.

SoupDragon · 03/02/2021 14:33

@Spidey66

Pneumonia is often secondary to something else. It's often secondary to flu. It's quite plausible it was secondary to COVID.
Apart from the fact he was hospitalised with pneumonia before getting covid.

Bit all this is extremely distasteful.

ShemShem · 03/02/2021 14:41

@AlternativePerspective

It's not known if it was COVID... you were there presumably?

He had COVID. Pneumonia is often associated with COVId. Stop being deliberately obtuse. Fact is, he died with COVID, and COVID was still a huge part of his drive.

And I suspect there was a lot more known here because his family came in to have their last moments with him, and he wasn’t in ICU, so I suspect that maybe he had a DNR or similar

Yep he had Covid

He also had pneumonia for weeks and was 100 bloody years old. Sitting here saying he died of COVID is premature at best

EarringsandLipstick · 03/02/2021 14:59

Sitting here saying he died of COVID is premature at best

I've no idea why this distasteful conversation is going on.

He died 'with Covid'. That's all. Of course the pneumonia was linked to Covid.

The exact cause of death is of no consequence to anyone posting here, or anyone other than his family.

daisychain01 · 03/02/2021 17:40

This thread is in seriously bad taste.

People shouldnt speculate about how someone died even before their funeral. Have you got nothing better to do? Are you really that bored?

addicted2spaniels · 03/02/2021 18:49

He probably had heart failure, which would lead to fluid accumulating on his lungs. That fluid then gets infected, hence the pneumonia. He got admitted, then caught Covid in hospital.

I worked in a nursing home, it's how a lot of older people go.

His life was incredible, well lived and to be over 100? I'd be more than happy with that.

CantBeAssed · 03/02/2021 20:32

@addicted2spaniels...i dont think your graphic description is really needed..plz remember there are people on this thread that have lost loved ones and do not need to read such detail...rather distasteful imo

wowfudge · 03/02/2021 20:47

There's far worse than that on thread.

MattTebbutsForearms · 03/02/2021 21:44

Jesus.

My whole street turned out at 6pm to clap for him tonight. I live in a village with a huge community spirit.

Much strength to his family at this difficult time. Heaven forbid when I lose my father I ever have to read such bile about him, knowing as I do what a kind man he was like Tom. And for gods sake is it really necessary for folk to have a bun fight about what or with he died of.

May tomorrow be a better day indeed.

Miljea · 03/02/2021 23:40

@MattTebbutsForearms

Jesus.

My whole street turned out at 6pm to clap for him tonight. I live in a village with a huge community spirit.

Much strength to his family at this difficult time. Heaven forbid when I lose my father I ever have to read such bile about him, knowing as I do what a kind man he was like Tom. And for gods sake is it really necessary for folk to have a bun fight about what or with he died of.

May tomorrow be a better day indeed.

Can you please highlight 'the bile'?
CayrolBaaaskin · 03/02/2021 23:54

RIP Sir Tom. What a lovely man. I cried when I heard he died, I didn’t know him personally but I suppose his death felt like the culmination of all the awful things that have happened in the last year. Also he seemed like a good man and some light in the darkness.

Hopefully it is the darkest moment and we can look forward to better times. Tomorrow will be a better day.

JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows · 05/02/2021 01:54

I disagree with you, that’s all. Just don’t think youth trumps all whatever the circumstance, never have.

@DenisetheMenace Well let me ask you this - would you rather die aged 39 leaving 3 small children behind, or die at 100 having lived a full life and seen your children grow up and have their own children?

JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows · 05/02/2021 01:57

I agree with what a PP said about likening it to the death of Princess Diana. Looking back, the hysterical public outpouring of grief, of people who never clapped eyes on her weeping, was a massive over reaction. I did read once that there was a reason for it - that those who maybe have repressed grief or trauma have an outlet and they just can't channel it to the right place (there is a name for this). I think, after a year of COVID and lockdowns, and deaths, illnesses, job losses, a hard bit economy, maybe the same has happened with Captain Tom

TheUnquestionedAnswer · 05/02/2021 02:08

I was walking up the road last night and noticed an old man - say in his 80's stood outside in his slippers. I asked if he was waiting to clap, and he said yes, so I stopped and clapped with him. He said, 'what a fabulous country'. I was close to tears. Deaths like this do bring things to the front of your mind. Grief IS a terrible thing and often suppressed, unintentionally.

DateLoaf · 05/02/2021 07:17

That’s very true about suppressed grief. Drawings by kids, lit candles and clapping happened around our way. I find the nastiness on this thread baffling. Many many people have lost people to the pandemic and until we have a public event of collective mourning this is a small way for people who want to, to acknowledge their losses of whatever kind while also acknowledging some remarkable good work by Captain Tom who didn’t have to do it at all. Particularly when you feel affected by grief or other kinds of loss, kind actions by other people can take on huge significance so I am not surprised that so many people felt a connection with Captain Tom’s good nature, as a symbol of that kindness.

HowQuicklyTwoAndTwenty890 · 05/02/2021 07:48

@TheUnquestionedAnswer

I was walking up the road last night and noticed an old man - say in his 80's stood outside in his slippers. I asked if he was waiting to clap, and he said yes, so I stopped and clapped with him. He said, 'what a fabulous country'. I was close to tears. Deaths like this do bring things to the front of your mind. Grief IS a terrible thing and often suppressed, unintentionally.
Oh that is lovely. Thanks
DenisetheMenace · 05/02/2021 07:56

JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows

I disagree with you, that’s all. Just don’t think youth trumps all whatever the circumstance, never have.

@DenisetheMenace Well let me ask you this - would you rather die aged 39 leaving 3 small children behind, or die at 100 having lived a full life and seen your children grow up and have their own children“

Obviously, I would rather die at 100 because I’m a selfish human being.
If I were a doctor though, assessing two patients for treatment and doing so on the basis of likely outcome, I would hope I would be given equal consideration whatever my age.
I am absolutely certain that my own mother, for example, is healthier at 81 than many a 39 year old.

DenisetheMenace · 05/02/2021 07:57

If I were being assessed by a doctor though ....

SunshineCake · 05/02/2021 08:24

@TheUnquestionedAnswer

I was walking up the road last night and noticed an old man - say in his 80's stood outside in his slippers. I asked if he was waiting to clap, and he said yes, so I stopped and clapped with him. He said, 'what a fabulous country'. I was close to tears. Deaths like this do bring things to the front of your mind. Grief IS a terrible thing and often suppressed, unintentionally.
This made me tearful. What a lovely thing you did. That man will remember your kindness.

Tom did have a DNR. I heard him on an interview say it himself before some of you get your knickers in a twist.

I think a lot of tears about people we never knew are about our own situations. What is wrong with that? Due to a situation in my childhood I never cry about sad things that happened to me but I cried over Diana, Tom and many other people and sad situations I never met or where in. It's healthy for me as I have tears to get out and they won't come otherwise.