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Original poster

Did the captain Tom foundation charity really use the money to build their own spa pool??

309 replies

Terryer · 05/07/2023 07:25

Just reading the paper this morning and see the family of Captain Tom have been ordered to pull down a building in their garden with a spa pool. I think it's a planning issue but the inference is that they used the money raised to build it. Did they really?

OP posts:
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Original poster
Terryer · 05/07/2023 08:03

notsayingmuch · 05/07/2023 07:31

I notice that the article doesn't state that, it just invites the reader to draw that conclusion. My thoughts are that the family seem pretty wealthy, and with the passing of Capt Tom there would have been an inheritance.

Yes this is what I thought that it was left up to the reader!

OP posts:
Original poster
Terryer · 05/07/2023 08:03

User9753224 · 05/07/2023 07:47

I can’t help thinking if everything they’ve done is above board, how terrible and brutal for the family to read this stuff about themselves and be put under the spotlight.

These days I never know what to believe in our press.

Well, quite.

OP posts:
NeedToThinkOfOne · 05/07/2023 08:04

Isn’t it more of a planning permission story that has been spun by the Daily Fail, in order to make the dim reader believe that the money he raised was spent on a home spa for the family?

Mrsjayy · 05/07/2023 08:05

littleripper · 05/07/2023 07:42

It was a grift which was perfect - so perfect - an anxious public, the NHS, WW2.

This really old man takes a walk in the garden and the family were like woop woop!

Plbrookes · 05/07/2023 08:05

Joystir59 · 05/07/2023 07:51

The fact that so many people bought into the mad idea that any part of the NHS relied on an old man raising funds by walking a trolley around his garden is a sad indictment of the state of the national psyche

Unbelievable that there are people set against the idea of a charity making life a bit more pleasant for nurses and patients. Do people genuinely have no compassion?

Cinnamope · 05/07/2023 08:07

i think it’s more that they used the name of the charity to get planning permission for a building supposed to be for offices in a protected or listed area, it would not have been approved if they knew it was for a pool.

then they built the pool anyway and tried to apply for retrospective planning and it was refused.

MummyJ36 · 05/07/2023 08:07

It was when they took the poor guy to Barbados of all places when he was in his 90s and clearly got in the best health on what was clearly a freebie holiday! They dressed it up like “he’s always wanted to come here!!” Yeah sure!!!

Endlesssummer2022 · 05/07/2023 08:08

Flickersy · 05/07/2023 07:46

While the original bit of raising money for the NHS was lovely, the whole circus that followed was a festival of exploitation masterminded by the daughter in PR and was hyped up on mawkisk jingoistic sentiment. It was obvious what was happening. But at the time if you said that on here you would be well and truly rounded on by the ignorant.

This. I remember this time well. You couldn’t call out the grift in any way. I also suspect he was also complicit, not all elderly people are doddery and confused. However, if you said anything you’d be called an anti- English and all kinds.

NerrSnerr · 05/07/2023 08:09

MummyJ36 · 05/07/2023 08:07

It was when they took the poor guy to Barbados of all places when he was in his 90s and clearly got in the best health on what was clearly a freebie holiday! They dressed it up like “he’s always wanted to come here!!” Yeah sure!!!

He didn't look too upset about it. I don't think Tom was a victim in this.

Roussette · 05/07/2023 08:09

Calloffruity · 05/07/2023 08:02

I think lots of people thought it privately. My family did

Show quote history

^^ This.

My adult DCs and me were very sceptical. The daughter was so full on in her money making efforts and we have followed what has gone on since. Then they take him over to Barbados for cricket (not legal at the time I believe) where he catches covid and dies. (Not accusing them of doing this deliberately but it was a bonkers decision by the family)

Then come the T shirts, Gin, baseball caps and it all starts looking very very murky.

I do criticise the BBC because they were relentless in their coverage on Breakfast News, the family, Captain Tom, and all were on every single morning. Duping us into thinking how wonderful it all was.

The other sister has distanced herself and I have a feeling there's been a family fall out.

I think the enquiry will show there has been a lot of wrongdoings. We, as a family, were dubious very early on.

Endlesssummer2022 · 05/07/2023 08:11

MummyJ36 · 05/07/2023 08:07

It was when they took the poor guy to Barbados of all places when he was in his 90s and clearly got in the best health on what was clearly a freebie holiday! They dressed it up like “he’s always wanted to come here!!” Yeah sure!!!

And you know they brought him to try and blag flight upgrades and better rooms in hotels.

Enfys1982 · 05/07/2023 08:11

They are an awful family and always made me feel uncomfortable. As others have said Hannah runs a PR company and she IMO exploited her father for her own gain. They have milked and used his memory to promote everything from gin to Children’s books.

Original poster
Terryer · 05/07/2023 08:11

Cinnamope · 05/07/2023 08:07

i think it’s more that they used the name of the charity to get planning permission for a building supposed to be for offices in a protected or listed area, it would not have been approved if they knew it was for a pool.

then they built the pool anyway and tried to apply for retrospective planning and it was refused.

Yes this seems to be what happened. Still a bit tone deaf even if they used their own money

OP posts:
Happyhippy99 · 05/07/2023 08:14

It was a money making exercise by his daughter. She blatantly used her charming elderly father whom the media loved. A very thorough forensic trawl through the charities accounts are needed. It’s scams like this that make people wary about giving to genuine charities in the future.

Bloodysoapoperas · 05/07/2023 08:15

@Plbrookes tbf I'd like to know how my trust has benefited from the money raised. Our unit would love a nice new staff room.
From what I understand the planning permission was for an annexe to display all the cards and memorabilia they'd received but then turned into a home spa complex in reality.

Zarataralara · 05/07/2023 08:15

The part I don’t understand is they raised about £33 million for the NHS so why wasn’t this amount just handed over? I realise it might have taken off far beyond their expectations but they had time to decide how the money went to the NHS and cut out the need for charity managers etc..

ElBandito · 05/07/2023 08:16

They are grifters. I've seen people questioning their ethics right from the very beginning. Lengths not laps!

Plbrookes · 05/07/2023 08:16

Bloodysoapoperas · 05/07/2023 08:15

@Plbrookes tbf I'd like to know how my trust has benefited from the money raised. Our unit would love a nice new staff room.
From what I understand the planning permission was for an annexe to display all the cards and memorabilia they'd received but then turned into a home spa complex in reality.

How extraordinarily entitled.

Mrsjayy · 05/07/2023 08:17

I don't understand why the money wasn't just distributed to the NHS together charity either, ?

Cinnamope · 05/07/2023 08:18

Terryer · 05/07/2023 08:11

Yes this seems to be what happened. Still a bit tone deaf even if they used their own money

Show quote history

Oh absolutely! Wasn’t excusing them at all. But there isn’t any suggestion they used the funds raised for the nhs to build it.

the money from all the marketing ties ins (the gin etc 🙄)…well who knows.

NeedToThinkOfOne · 05/07/2023 08:18

Posts on here validate the Daily Fail running with what is essentially a planning permission issue the family have with their local council, but the Fail know it’ll get the clicks and comments from ‘disgusted of Home Counties, who never trusted that charity anyway’ and all those people who seem to know lots of Captain Tom’s inner thoughts too.
Keep funding the Daily Fail, folks 🙄

topnoddy · 05/07/2023 08:19

The public who got caught up in the hype need to know a full break down of exactly where all the money raised has gone don't they .

Bet we will never see that though

Cinnamope · 05/07/2023 08:20

Mrsjayy · 05/07/2023 08:17

I don't understand why the money wasn't just distributed to the NHS together charity either, ?

It was, they are investigating what came afterwards, when the foundation was set up.

thecatsthecats · 05/07/2023 08:21

NeedToThinkOfOne · 05/07/2023 08:18

Posts on here validate the Daily Fail running with what is essentially a planning permission issue the family have with their local council, but the Fail know it’ll get the clicks and comments from ‘disgusted of Home Counties, who never trusted that charity anyway’ and all those people who seem to know lots of Captain Tom’s inner thoughts too.
Keep funding the Daily Fail, folks 🙄

The BBC are running the same story.

Mrsjayy · 05/07/2023 08:21

Cinnamope · 05/07/2023 08:20

It was, they are investigating what came afterwards, when the foundation was set up.

Show quote history

Ah OK thank you.

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