Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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:
TokyoSashimi · 02/02/2021 19:43

I think the reason why i am sad is because in a year of totally shit things his story was a nice thing.

I am now sad that people can be so bitter and spiteful about that. It seems a shame really.

SummaLuvin · 02/02/2021 19:43

@ItsnotTheNorm I hadn't realised that there were those exemptions in place. Exactly how many millions do you need to raise in order for the rules not to apply?

wowfudge · 02/02/2021 19:44

If I make it to anything like that great age, I hope I have the chance to go on a lovely holiday with my family. They did nothing wrong.

Oliphanto · 02/02/2021 19:44

I’m not with you @Happyislucy. Bedfordshire was Tier 2, he broke no rules, shops were rammed, hairdressers open. I hope he had a wonderful holiday and the family have some great memories.

Serin · 02/02/2021 19:44

Rest in peace Sir Tom and Thank You for your service to our country.

Abraxan · 02/02/2021 19:44

@Bunnyrun5

TheWashingMachine yes he did go Barbados with his family on 11th December while the rest of us were in lockdown pre Xmas.
Which law did he break?
ItsnotTheNorm · 02/02/2021 19:45

[quote SummaLuvin]@ItsnotTheNorm I hadn't realised that there were those exemptions in place. Exactly how many millions do you need to raise in order for the rules not to apply?[/quote]
Could you bubble with your grandmother so she can meet her grandchild ?

Guylan · 02/02/2021 19:49

I think they were tier 3 or 4 at the time.

He was in Tier 2 when he and his family went to Barbados.

From a newspaper - “The family flew out to the Caribbean Island on December 11 before strict coronavirus travel rules came into force in the UK....They set off more than a week before his hometown of Bedford was placed into Tier 3 on December 19, and later Tier 4 on December 20.”

RIP Captain Tom, a life well lived.

ItsnotTheNorm · 02/02/2021 19:52

@Guylan

I think they were tier 3 or 4 at the time.

He was in Tier 2 when he and his family went to Barbados.

From a newspaper - “The family flew out to the Caribbean Island on December 11 before strict coronavirus travel rules came into force in the UK....They set off more than a week before his hometown of Bedford was placed into Tier 3 on December 19, and later Tier 4 on December 20.”

RIP Captain Tom, a life well lived.

Exactly. He didn’t break a single rule
SummaLuvin · 02/02/2021 19:52

@ItsnotTheNorm Bubbling is not possible, she is over three hours away, and we don't want her on public transport and visiting London, so so many touch points. We can't risk her health, she is due second dose of vaccine soon, so after this lockdown is over I am hopeful.

Guylan · 02/02/2021 19:52
  • sorry that should be Sir, Captain Tom.
Suamino · 02/02/2021 19:53

Thanks to Sir Tom for his service to this country. RIP.

daisychain01 · 02/02/2021 19:54

It would be good if people can call him by his proper Military rank.

He was promoted to full Colonel on his 100th birthday by the MOD.

That's 3 ranks higher than Captain.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/04/29/captain-tom-moore-becomes-colonel-mod-announces-honorary-promotion/

Doobigetta · 02/02/2021 19:54

If I’m still around when I’m 100 (and I’d very much prefer not to be) I’d quite like to spend my last weeks in Barbados. And if it pissed off some sanctimonious prunes on the internet, so much the better. Good for him, I hope he had a lovely holiday.

Guylan · 02/02/2021 19:55

[quote daisychain01]It would be good if people can call him by his proper Military rank.

He was promoted to full Colonel on his 100th birthday by the MOD.

That's 3 ranks higher than Captain.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/04/29/captain-tom-moore-becomes-colonel-mod-announces-honorary-promotion/[/quote]
Sorry I didn’t know. Thanks for sharing.

ItsnotTheNorm · 02/02/2021 19:56

[quote SummaLuvin]@ItsnotTheNorm Bubbling is not possible, she is over three hours away, and we don't want her on public transport and visiting London, so so many touch points. We can't risk her health, she is due second dose of vaccine soon, so after this lockdown is over I am hopeful.[/quote]
Absolutely you’re right not to risk london. I hope she gets her vaccinations soon and you can see her Flowers

daisychain01 · 02/02/2021 19:59

No problem @Guylan!

visitorfromtheplanetzog · 02/02/2021 20:00

@Robin60

I agree Summalovin, many older people (and their families)have sacrificed many special events this year in order that we may see the end of this dreadful disease. Would the public be as sympathetic if Dominic Cummings had taken an elderly relative on holiday in December? I think not..... I do feel terribly sad for Captain Toms family right now, at whatever age you lose a loved one it’s truly devastating.My thoughts are with them.
Had Dominic Cummings or his elderly relative raised more than £30million for charity at the age of 99/100 I suspect that people would look at the matter differently.

Anyway. In another 150 years' time, when people are studying history and they are learning about the Great Plague of the 21st Century, who do you think will get a mention in the history books - DC or Sir T?

daisychain01 · 02/02/2021 20:01

MNHQ, could you please change both of the current threads to say Colonel.

Guylan · 02/02/2021 20:02

@daisychain01, 👍😊

ChocOrange1 · 02/02/2021 20:03

I am glad he went to Barbados and felt the sun on his face for the last time.
Shame no other 100 year olds got to go on holiday last year

UndertheCedartree · 02/02/2021 20:09

RIP Captain Tom Sad

TiddyTid · 02/02/2021 20:09

Fgs. Some comments here. Can't be happy for some, can't even be sad for some, it's all negative or got to get a little dig in (not just talking about this thread)

But guess what? This thread ISN'T ABOUT YOU (with all due respect, honestly)

So what if his daughter is in PR. Good on her, got tens of millions raised then, thanks to her. So what if he went to Barbados in the sun with his family. I would at his age. Probably safer there over Christmas tbh. His family being allowed to visit was down to the hospital policies.

It's about honouring a man who made a difference. Not just in 2020 but during WW2 and the epitome of what it is to be proud, caring and the good old British spirit.

Serin · 02/02/2021 20:11

ChocOrange1 I do know of a 101year old who went to Spain last summer.

ChocOrange1 · 02/02/2021 20:14

Yes, they should do that then it can be deleted and take the spitefullness with it into the void. He went on holiday, he was 100. It’s not like he managed to bring a new Barbados variant back with him for goodness sake
He didn't, but he could have.

Be realistic, if someone on AIBU said "I'm taking my 100 year old nan to Barbados", EVERYONE would be calling her selfish, a murderer and telling her to stay at home.

Swipe left for the next trending thread