NO to a state funeral for Captain Sir Tom Moore AIBU?

[Muncher75]

Just that really. I’ve just been sent an email from change.org asking me to sign a petition to push for a state funeral for him.
Now don’t get me wrong he was a remarkable man and an inspiration... but a state funeral? That will cost us, the taxpayer money we definitely cannot afford in the currant climate. Also I’m sure he’d rather the money go where it’s needed.

So many people in the country doing worthwhile things every day. But they don't have a talented PR daughter

Oh ffs NO!!! We also didn't clap. The best way to honour his memory is to follow the rules and stay at home unless you absolutely have to go out.

It’s all gone too far and too sycophantic now. Leave the man alone, it’s insanity the national gushing over a bloke that (I’m sorry) didn’t really move or inspire me.

He has a gin !
www.masterofmalt.com/gin/otterbeck/captain-sir-toms-london-dry-gin/?utm_content=otterbeck/captain-sir-toms-london-dry-gin&currencyCode=GBP&utm_source=database&utm_medium=base&utm_campaign=mom_base_1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhOSzi9XO7gIVTbDtCh22iQnoEAQYASABEgKPG_D_BwE

This sounds harsh but it's what I think:

• He served in WW2 - something to be admired - but so did a great many men of his generation. *He set up a sponsored walking challenge - wonderful; it can't have been easy walking 100 miles on a Zimmer frame at his age. But the only really remarkable thing about it was the fact that it happened to go viral and raise a crazy amount of money. But that's just the way of the internet, nothing to do with him as a person.
• We know almost nothing about his life between the war service and the last year of his life. No idea if he was a good husband or a great boss, a generous guy who would always go the extra mile for someone in need - or maybe he wasn't always so exemplary?
• He was 100 years old when he died - how can that be sad? It's what 100 year olds do - when you get to that age, you're on borrowed time, fact.

The Tories and the Daily Mail reading public have highjacked his name for their own nationalist ends, which is ironic - given he was raising money for something they have stripped to the bone over the last ten years.
No disrespect to him or his family, but there's no way he deserves a state funeral, a plaque in Westminster Abbey etc - I can't believe it's even an idea. Maybe use his image in a memorial to all victims of Covid, but don't for goodness sake single him out any more than the next person to die of it.

It's a nice smokescreen for the government.
Captain Tom raised money for an underfunded government service. He shouldn't have needed to. By making him a national hero, they are deflecting away from their chronic underfunding and general incompetence.

@Propagandalf

I agree with *@Twistered* that the family should get the last say. If they opted for the state funeral, then that is a drop in the ocean compared to the £30M-odd he raised for the NHS.

Did he set out to raise the £30M-odd thinking that it'd more than cover the cost of a state funeral?

No, thought not.

@nitsandwormsdodger

I think there should be an annual Covid Memorial Day/national holiday to commemorate all those who died during the pandemic and to celebrate keyworkers - this day could be named Sir Cptn Tom Moore Day in his honour?

Why him?
Why not the team who made the vaccine ?
Or the doctors and nurses who have died at work
Or the lady down my street who has run the food bank for years?

Naming a day after him is not naming a day exclusively for him - the day would remember all those deceased, medically professional or otherwise who were significant in this pandemic - to name the day after him would be a nod of acknowledgement for his kindness and positivity.

Christ, I can’t understand why everyone is so tetchy about this - a sweet little guy, a noble effort - why the fuck everyone is on here sniping I really don’t know and I can’t be arsed to respond to anyone about this subject anymore as I have a 12-hr shift working with Covid patients tomorrow.

God bless you all 👍🏼🌈

I think they should make a new medal in his honour given out by the queen for when charity work is being awarded

This is one of things I dislike about this country, and more accurately some parts of our media.
The fact that they take a news story, good bad or indifferent, latch on to it, and wrong every ounce of credibility out of it, is embarrassing.

He was a lovely old chap, who did something remarkable, but suggesting a state funeral is beyond batty and pretty ridiculous when the costs associated with such would probably make a very big dent in several million pounds...

I read the military had suggested some military salute at his funeral.

That seems fitting but a I agree state funeral is a step too far.

His family need to be allowed to grieve in peace and lay him to rest privately in a way they know he would have liked.

A statue would be lovely, but funeral choices are up to his family and they need space and privacy to mourn.

A state funeral is an insane idea and cheapens the whole concept of the state funeral.

I’m not adverse to a statue if it’s privately funded and people feel they want one.

Aside from the cost of a state funeral to the taxpayer, already taking a massive hit due to the pandemic (and doesn't seem appropriate, because this is a private citizen), Boris Johnson, standing on his doorstep clapping, with the military involved, is using taxpayers' money for this 'clapping'. Every time politicians do something, the taxpayer is funding it.

I think it would be great if there was a memorial garden in the area where CaptainTom lived and died, and friends and family could easily visit.

No to state funeral but definetly something as not many 99 years old or even younger achieved what he did, he got off his arse through no doubt immense pain from arthritic joints and did something, how many of you would have done it? A plaque in his local hospital or in his old regiment should be sufficient

@Katie1784

This sounds harsh but it's what I think:

• He served in WW2 - something to be admired - but so did a great many men of his generation. *He set up a sponsored walking challenge - wonderful; it can't have been easy walking 100 miles on a Zimmer frame at his age. But the only really remarkable thing about it was the fact that it happened to go viral and raise a crazy amount of money. But that's just the way of the internet, nothing to do with him as a person.
• We know almost nothing about his life between the war service and the last year of his life. No idea if he was a good husband or a great boss, a generous guy who would always go the extra mile for someone in need - or maybe he wasn't always so exemplary?
• He was 100 years old when he died - how can that be sad? It's what 100 year olds do - when you get to that age, you're on borrowed time, fact.

The Tories and the Daily Mail reading public have highjacked his name for their own nationalist ends, which is ironic - given he was raising money for something they have stripped to the bone over the last ten years.
No disrespect to him or his family, but there's no way he deserves a state funeral, a plaque in Westminster Abbey etc - I can't believe it's even an idea. Maybe use his image in a memorial to all victims of Covid, but don't for goodness sake single him out any more than the next person to die of it.

What makes you think he walked 100 miles ?

It was about 2.5km

He's been used enough already by the shameless shower in charge. Bread and Circuses.

I read the military had suggested some military salute at his funeral

At least this time it's something any veteran could have: www.funeralguide.co.uk/help-resources/arranging-a-funeral/funeral-guides/military-funerals#:~:text=When%20a%20military%20salute%20or,in%20honour%20of%20their%20compatriot.

As said, for me it's not about whether there'll be a state funeral - there clearly won't - but whether some will produce an undignified display at the one which actually happens

@Puzzledandpissedoff Yeah, my late dad had one, he was career RAF. But he'd actually left 40 years previously.

Definetly not a state funeral. I'm sure his own family want to plan his funeral Themselves .

You clearly didn't see the foul tweet earlier from the poster littlepattilou was referencing that seems to have thankfully gone now then.
Yeah, just about going to Barbados, that's all it is.
It's collective toxicity, all these negative threads together drips into something bigger.

@Quaagars, sometimes I think you only pick out my posts to have a bunfight. If you had cared to notice, I had pointed out that post as completely inappropriate (and has since been deleted for quoting it).

People will have opinions, especially since many are a tad fed up of lockdown/false togetherness being thrown at us. People are starting to look behind the veil, it's nothing against Captain Tom but far more to do with those pulling the strings. Sadly, he was put on a pedestal and there's always consequences to that. What the media did, and those who pushed him into the spotlight to start with, they should be the ones ashamed of themselves at this time. Yet, it will be milked for weeks, months even. This is not how an elderly gentleman should have been treated in his last few months, and it's quite shocking that even in death he's being used as a media puppet of distraction, whilst grief vultures use his life and death for some attention. It's all pretty bloody awful, but for reasons we disagree on I'm sure.

There is already a plaque in the town of his birth - Keighley in West Yorkshire.

So presumably everyone that thinks he should have a state funeral is happy to dip in to their pockets to pay for it?

Some wanker on the local council has suggested renaming a road after him. Whyyyyyyyyyy?! He isn’t anything to do with the area, was a modest man, and all this expense is such a waste. Donate to an NHS charity if you must do something. It’s as if people cannot wait to jump on the bandwagon over it. Stick to dog poo, potholes and overgrown shrubs local council wanker.

This is like Princess Diana’s death all over again. State funeral, statue in Trafalgar Square, being buried in Westminister Abbey?

FFS this is just the tabloids enjoying winding up public hysteria. Like there is nothing else going on in the news at the minute.