Coronavirus: Captain Tom Moore to be knighted by Queen Elizabeth

The 100-year-old former army officer was nominated for being a ‘beacon of light’

Captain Tom Moore was made an honorary colonel on his 100th birthday. AP

British centenarian Captain Tom Moore is to be knighted after he raised more than £32 million for the UK health service for efforts to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.

The former army officer, who was made an honorary colonel of his former regiment on his 100th birthday, was nominated by the UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, for being “a beacon of light through the fog of coronavirus”.

Mr Moore said he had been given an “outstanding honour” by Queen Elizabeth and Mr Johnson.

He said he hoped the Queen will not be “heavy handed with the sword”, in reference to a recipient being tapped on each shoulder with a ceremonial blade when they are knighted.

“By then I might be rather a poor, old, weak soul,” he told the BBC.

The Second World War veteran, who will now be known as Captain Sir Thomas Moore, raised the money by walking 100 laps of his 25m garden.

With an initial target of £1,000, he raised almost £33m as his efforts drew the attention of a country among the worst hit by the pandemic.

He said he “never anticipated” he would receive the honour.

“I am certainly delighted and overawed by the fact this has happened to me.

“I thought this can’t be true. I’ve always said this won’t happen and it appears it actually has.

He holds the Guinness World Record for the most money raised by an individual through a walk.

“Colonel Tom’s fantastic fundraising broke records, inspired the whole country and provided us all with a beacon of light through the fog of coronavirus,” Mr Johnson said on Tuesday.

“On behalf of everyone who has been moved by his incredible story, I want to say a huge ‘thank you’. He’s a true national treasure.”

The opposition leader, Sir Keir Starmer, said Mr Moore had “brought inspiration to millions and helped all of us to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of our NHS.

“In his actions, Tom embodied the national solidarity which has grown throughout this crisis, and showed us that everyone can play their part in helping build a better future.”

Mr Moore has also been made a member of the England cricket team and received a flypast from the Royal Air Force on his birthday.