Captain Tom

[Parker231]

Sad news just announced - he has died today.

I was surprised that the report on the BBC, about his family being with him was taken off so quick. I also thought it was extremely insensitive to people who weren't allowed to be with their loved ones. My friend is massively struggling because she couldn't be with her husband.

He was 100 years old. Perhaps he chose not to have the vaccination.

@crosspelican

The last WW1 veteran! ?

No...WW2 Harry Patch was the ''Last Tommy'' from UK to die who served in WW1.

Harry said {From his old people's home} that even the flickering of the fluorescent light being switched on in the laundry cupboard reminded him of Mortar flashes.

Stand easy Soldier... Stand easy and rest now in the Knowledge you served your country Over and Above of what was expected
You have brought Honour and Respect back into our lives What a Gentleman you are
Great Britain and The NHS Thankyou you Sir xxx

@joystir59

Instead of a pointless useless national clap why don't all the clappers look around and see what positive action they could take to help someone in their neighbourhood, or pick litter or plant some veg and do a bit of guerrilla gardening, or arrange to walk with a lonely friend. Do something instead of standing on your door step clapping.

I clapped for the NHS - it gave a chance to say hello to my elderly neighbours

I also

• volunteered doing shopping in my local community
• did free classes about how to get online for business owners
• did a LOT of free work for those struggling

It’s not mutually exclusive.

@Disclosure

Captain Tom he survived all the bombs and now he's gone

🥀

Listening to this

How sad that this can't just be a thread for a wonderful man. How very sad and how very telling.

@Anotherlovelybitofsquirrel

How sad that this can't just be a thread for a wonderful man. How very sad and how very telling.

Yup ☹️

I didn’t know that he wrote a children’s book! Looks lovely, I guess the proceeds would go to his foundation

One Hundred Steps: The Story of Captain Sir Tom Moore www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0241486769/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_WA5SWVBWB1QA2J5G8X92?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

oakleaffy the PP posted a comment about the last WW1 veteran's death reminding her that it wouldn't be long before the last WW2 one died.
It autocorrected to gibberish. She posted a correction to say WW1 veteran. She wasn't saying Captain Tom was WW1.

@joystir59 agree sky news was way over the top, I fully admire what he did but why was he allowed to have his family by his bedside ?

Preparing to be flamed. True gent and hero, not in question

I’m so unsettled by the media and reporting of this.

Captain Tom had pneumonia for weeks. Then diagnosed with COVID after admitted to hospital, and all of a sudden it’s a COVID
story, when in fact as a national hero perhaps media should have covered this earlier. Pneumonia treatment is not given in spades to 100 year olds. I’m sad his death is attributed to COVID when in reality it is most likely the existing pneumonia. I’m not a medical expert but this narrative doesn’t sit well.

@LyingWitchInTheWardrobe I agree with you. This is a really weird thread. Nobody knew anything about this man. It was all a weird fundraising frenzy. One of the oddest things I've ever seen. His family will be sad. He was 100. Can't ask for more than that. He looked like he'd had a comfortable life. He'd gone off to Barbados on a nice holiday. He'd been knighted and celebrated and sung with Michael Ball (Jesus!). It was all weird. The way people act now will be weird. The clapping, fake grief... I can't stick it. Is it perhaps that people are unable to express their own emotions and so live them through someone else? I can't understand it at all.

It normal to feel sad about people you don’t know but who you admire dying. I still feel sad about George Michael’s untimely death.

And David Bowie.

@LyingWitchInTheWardrobe I'm saddened by your comments actually (and I'm sorry, too, if you have lost loved ones, it's awful).

My sister died last Friday...she was 45 years old. It was sudden and she died alone in hospital. No family with her...not because we weren't allowed to be there, but simply because it wasn't expected and visitors were 'between shifts' when she died. We are obviously devastated!!

However, I still felt real sadness to hear about Captain Tom's death...and I don't understand your unkindness at all to be honest! My grief for my sister, does not stop me from feeling sadness for others. I'm not sure why you can't seem to see that?

I was quite moved to hear his daughters talking about the last few hours where they reminisced about childhood and memories of their mother. It’s the best that anyone can hope for. It’s not often that way for many of us but I’m glad he and they had that.
People responded to his positive spirit.

Does it really matter if people who didn't know Tom are grieving for him? Does it cause you any harm? Does it cause him any harm? Does it make them bad people?
No.
For a lot of people, Captain Tom was a symbol of positivity and spirit during this pandemic and whether it's made any difference to you or not, it has touched a lot of people. Some of the comments on this thread are ridiculous, maybe you need to question why you are so irritated by people feeling sad that someone has passed away before you question whether these people have their own psychological issues.

I didn't know captain Tom, but I am sad to hear that he's passed away. He was clearly a very loved man and I hope he is at peace.

Also just to add to my last comment if you actually read some of the comments under the tributes online you will see how much of a inspiration he has been to many MANY different people. Children, adults and elderly all writing how he inspired them to do something or push them self.
If they want to grieve or express how they feel then let them and maybe have a day or two off your phone.

'17:50joystir59

R.I.P Major Tom. However I think the special report on the news was very insensitive and is rubbing salt in the wounds of so many who have had to stay away whilst loved ones died in hospital alone. I also greatly resent the way him raising money for the NHS was latched onto by the government and the media in order to promote the idea that our NHS is a charity case requiring an old man to push a shopping trolley around in order to raise money to keep it going. The NHS is a professional health service funded by all of us through NI and taxation.
He holidayed Barbados and died with all his family around him. One in the eye for so many who have suffered loss destitutiin and isolation in this pandemic, the many who continue to suffer.'

^This.

He did a basically good thing but it gave this incompetent and corrupt Government a good distraction story in doing so.

I simply do not buy the line that he should have been front of the vaccine queue on anything other than age or health need.

I think anyone travelling abroad when the UK is in lockdown and we here in Wales are told we can't even drive anywhere that isn't essential travel, even 1 mile, is wrong, whoever they are. He didn't go to the Caribbean alone. Hopefully none of the party took Covid there as a country like that could do without Covid cases being imported from old Plague Island, UK. Just because the Government allow it doesn't make it right, socially responsible or safe (true for many things actually.)
(Randon thought, it's funny how many who criticise the weakness of PCR tests are equally happy to use them if it allows them precious foreign travel! Not Cap Tom but a few hypocrites I know.)

He came back to the UK on the 6th. Hospital 12th. He only tested positive for Covid on the 22nd. 16 days. So if exposed to virus on the 6th at airport, should have come down with it by the 20th at the latest you'd think. Possibly caught it in hospital?
He had a very good innings. Surprised, if positive, he was allowed to be discharged though - assume his family took the risk and decided to self-isolate.

I wasn't with my dm in her last days simply because doctors misled us about her prognosis. I thought I had time for my dcs to finish school for half term when we could all travel to spend quality time with her. She basically died ten days after being told her cancer had come back. I feel so angry at her doctors for the lost opportunity but I would never begrudge someone that priceless time with a loved one.