Family of Captain Tom who raised £39m for the NHS want to exhibit his possessions

Captain Sir Tom Moore’s personal effects could go on show to the public in a museum, his family has revealed.

Some of the NHS fund-raiser’s most recognisable possessions, including his medals, smart jackets and ties, and wheeled walker could form the centrepiece of an exhibition.

Details emerged as relatives marked today’s anniversary of the start of his charity walks – when he raised £38.9million by doing 100 laps of his garden – by announcing plans for a fundraising event.

The personal effects of NHS fund-raiser Captain Sir Tom Moore could become the centrepiece in a museum 

Captain Tom 100 invites people to carry out a challenge, such as climbing the stairs 100 times or baking 100 cakes.

Events will take place from April 30, which would have been the Second World War veteran’s 101st birthday, over the bank holiday weekend to May 3.

He had discussed the initiative before his death in February from Covid-19. Captain Tom’s daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore told of the ‘deafening silence’ in the family’s Bedfordshire home since then.

She revealed how he slipped away in hospital as she and her children Benjie and Georgia held his hands with his other daughter Lucy Teixeira on a video call.

‘It was so calm and peaceful,’ she added.

Mrs Ingram-Moore said the family wants to share his memory in an exhibition with the public who donated to his appeal.

‘Our hope is all of these things are shown in a museum so everyone can share them,’ she said. 

The cards could be used to create a ‘Path of Hope’ – possibly a glass-covered walkway with thousands of messages on view underneath.

Captain Sir Tom Moore's family has announced a new fund-raising challenge for the public

Captain Sir Tom Moore’s family has announced a new fund-raising challenge for the public

Other items under consideration include a stair lift with bespoke seat cover featuring Captain Tom’s regimental insignia from the Marston Moretaine home he shared with Hannah, her husband Colin and their children Benjie and Georgia.

Mrs Ingram-Moore added the family were grateful for calls for a permanent commemoration, such as a statue or hospital in Captain Tom’s name, but wanted others to determine what it should be.

‘We’ve always very much felt that’s not for us to decide. It’s for the public and the government to decide,’ she said.

The government has already hinted one of its 40 new NHS hospitals could be named after Captain following a campaign in the Mail.

Members of the public have been challenged to carry out a challenge, such as climbing the stairs 100 times or baking 100 cakes, over the weekend of April 30- what would have been his 101st birthday

Members of the public have been challenged to carry out a challenge, such as climbing the stairs 100 times or baking 100 cakes, over the weekend of April 30- what would have been his 101st birthday

The former soldier, who was knighted by the Queen in July last year, died on February 2 after catching Covid-19 at Bedford Hospital, where he had been treated for pneumonia.

His daughter said the family had ‘no anger’ about the nature of his death and praised the care he received from NHS doctors and nurses over the years.

‘That would be a bad place to be. He was also 100, so we made our peace completely with his end. And we know that he did too,’ she said.

Mrs Ingram-Moore also revealed how he slipped away peacefully with her and her children at his side and his other daughter, Lucy Teixeira, on a video call, shortly after he mentioned he was hungry and had a little to eat and drink.

The family of the fund-raiser, who died in January aged 100 and is pictured sitting on a motorbike, want to share his memory in an exhibition

The family of the fund-raiser, who died in January aged 100 and is pictured sitting on a motorbike, want to share his memory in an exhibition

‘Honestly, it was so beautiful. He suddenly was calm. Benjie, Georgia and I were holding his hands,’ she said.

‘I said to the children “Grandpa has said goodbye”. It was so calm and peaceful, it felt completely the right end for him.’ The Captain Tom 100 initiative was discussed with him before his death and the seaside fan had talked of taking part by building 100 sandcastles or jumping 100 waves.

Mrs Ingram-Moore said: ‘This is to try to ensure that the joy and hope he gave us lives on by challenging yourself to do anything around the number 100.

‘It doesn’t matter who you are, or where you are. I hope it will go out globally, to army bases and naval ships and schools. Can you imagine the crazy things that will happen?

‘Look what he did. The power of the small can be morphed into something phenomenal. We thought he’d raise £1,000 and he raised £38 million. We want people to harness that.’

For details of the fundraising challenge, see www.captaintom100.com.