A Spitfire air parade to celebrate Captain Tom Moore’s 100th birthday was canceled after the Department of Transport expressed concern that it would encourage crowds to form amid the coronavirus shutdown.
The Mark 9 Spitfire, named The Spirit Of Kent, was supposed to fly over Cpt Tom’s house in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, at 8 p.m. Thursday, just in time for the national weekly Clap For Carers.
But the planned flight from the Biggin Hill food hangar, 120 km from Cpt Tom’s home, had to be abandoned when the ministry deemed the event “non-essential travel,” reported The Telegraph.
Cpt Tom, 99, decided to raise £ 1,000 for NHS communities by going around his garden before his 100th birthday.
–
A Mark 9 Spitfire named The Spirit Of Kent (pictured) was supposed to fly over Cpt Tom’s house in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, at 8 p.m. Thursday, just in time for the national weekly Clap For Carers
–
After exceeding this goal in less than 24 hours, donations have poured into Cpt Tom and his current tally is £ 29 million.
Alex Monk, a pilot who works for the company that restored the Spitfire, told the newspaper that he should ask permission, but that he would continue with a more limited flight path.
He said, “It’s not black and white, but we could disapprove of it if we just did it without warning.”
Instead of an aerial parade, the Spitfire will fly within a five-mile radius of Biggin Hill Airfield – something the company does not need clearance for.
The aircraft will fly at 250 mph, 500 feet above Princess Royal University, where the pilot plans to “flap” in support of NHS personnel.
– –
The planned flight from the Biggin Hill food hangar, which is 120 km from Cpt Tom’s house (photo), had to be abandoned when the department deemed the event to be “non-essential travel,” reports The Telegraph. .
–
– –
Alex Monk (photo), who works for the company that restored the Spitfire, told the newspaper that he had to ask permission and that he would continue to use a more limited flight path.
–
“This way they can see a Spitfire and we can pay tribute to the people of the NHS,” added Monk.
No other acrobatic maneuver will be performed due to strict rules established by the civil aviation authority, but the aircraft has already been emptied of its stale fuel and is under maintenance in preparation.
It comes after Cpt Moore received 120,000 birthday cards wishing him good luck and thanking him for his incredible fundraising achievement.
The Second World War veteran turned down the gift offer and instead asked them to go to the people with coronavirus.
– –
The plane (photo) will fly at 250 mph, 500 feet above Princess Royal University where the pilot plans to make a ‘wing movement’ of support for NHS personnel
–
– –
It comes after Cpt Tom received 120,000 birthday cards wishing him good luck and thanking him for his incredible fundraising feat. Her grandson Benjie stands in the great hall of the Bedford school surrounded by cards
–
– –
Cpt Moore’s fundraising efforts have won praise from royalty and celebrities, now people around the world have written to wish him a happy 100th birthday on Thursday, April 30.
–
– –
While most of us will be satisfied with a fireplace filled with cards, Cpt Tom Moore has enough supporters to fill the entire Great Hall of Bedford School near his home in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire.
–
– —
– –
Birthday cards from around the world sent to a Bedford boarding school to wish Captain Tom Moore a happy 100th birthday
–
As he prepares to turn 100, Cpt Tom has captured the heart of the country and the British have decided to send birthday cards before the big day.
Now, Bedford School, near the veteran’s house, has filled their school room with thousands of cards from across the country.
But with only three days before his 100th birthday, Cpt Tom refused any gifts from the public and instead asked the public to donate to people suffering from the coronavirus pandemic.
– –
Cpt Moore’s grandson Benjie holds one of thousands of cards written to his grandfather before his birthday Thursday
–
– –
Capt Tom captured the heart of Britain after collecting £ 29 million for NHS charities by walking 100 laps of his Bedfordshire garden before his 100th birthday on Thursday.
–
– –
Staff at Bedford School opened and displayed thousands of cards upon their arrival at the 16th century residential school
–
Today, he tweeted: “I am always offered many beautiful articles. I really have everything I need, but others are struggling because of Covid-19, rather than giving it to me, please donate these generous offers to a local nursing home or someone. one from your community. Thank you.’
The cards are held at Bedford School, in the presence of Cpt Moore’s 16-year-old grandson, Benjie Ingram-Moore said, “It means a lot for grandfather as well as for us as a family. We are extremely proud of the way the nation has taken Grandpa into his heart. Words cannot express how much I idolize him.
A total of 140 volunteers, including students, parents, teachers and alumni, helped organize the loading of the truckloads of cards to wish Cpt Tom a happy 100th birthday.
– –
In addition to lining the floors of the Great Hall, cards hang from the ceiling and sit on the stage while the staff scrambled for a little space to put the influx of letters wishing Cpt Tom Moore a happy 100th anniversary.
–
– –
The Great Hall of Bedford School is barely visible among the thousands of cards addressed to Cpt Tom Moore, who has raised more than £ 29 million in donations for the NHS.
–
– –
Cpt Moore received about 1,000 gifts and more than 100,000 cards, which are held at Bedford School, on Sunday, and has now asked supporters to send gifts to people suffering from the coronavirus pandemic.
–
– –
Birthday cards arrived at Bedford School by truck as Cpt Tom Moore prepares to celebrate his birthday on Thursday
–
– –
Cpt Moore’s daughter said she would sing him a happy birthday live on BBC Breakfast and that they would be celebrating with a cake later today
–
Cpt Tom’s eldest daughter Lucy Teixeira said yesterday that he had received at least thousands of gifts “of everything, chocolate and flowers.”
Speaking to the Sunday People, his daughter Lucy said, “He is absolutely blown away and humiliated by the support.
She added that she would sing Happy Birthday to her father at the BBC breakfast Thursday, saying, “And he will have cake – he likes cake.”
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were among the voices praising Cpt Moore for his incredible fundraiser, with Prince William hailing the WWII veteran as an ‘individual fundraising machine’.
He added: “It has been around for a long time, it knows everything and it is wonderful that everyone has been inspired by its history and its determination. ”
–
