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A postmaster has been forced to take over an empty school as more than 40,000 cards arrive to commemorate Captain Tom Moore’s centennial as a team of airplane restorers prepares a Spitfire to fly on its big day.
The 99-year-old man, who collectively funded £ 28 million for the NHS by walking along his garden in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, was inundated with letters before his centenary on April 30, which were sorted by the South Midlands Mail Center in Northampton.
The Bedford School, attended by Captain Tom’s grandson, Benjie, accepted the delivery after providing his Great Hall for social distance staff to open each card.
Bedford School’s Great Hall was transformed into a sorting office for Captain Tom Moore’s birthday cards as it received over 40,000 letters before its centenary on April 30.
A team of social distancing staff began the great task of opening the tens of thousands of 100th birthday cards sent to Captain Tom, who raised over £ 28 million for the NHS
Bill Chandi, who is in charge of the local post office, told Bedford Independent: “In all my years as a Post Master, I have never seen anything like this.
‘We are ecstatic for Tom. Every time he used to go to our store, he would always tell me that post offices are in the center of the community.
“I spoke to him on Saturday and told him that is true now.”
Mail center staff have reprogrammed the sorting machines to separate Captain Tom’s mail into a dedicated collection box, and they hope to deal with hundreds of thousands of cards and letters in the coming days.
Stephen James, the center manager who received thousands of cards for the veteran, told the BBC: “No one on the team has known that one person has received so much mail.”
It comes as a RAF team from the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar hoping to fly a Spitfire past the hero’s house as a “little gesture” to celebrate their accomplishments.
A close-up photo of some of the 100 birthday cards sent to Captain Tom. The 99-year-old crowdfunding financed the sum by walking along his garden in Bedfordshire
Stacked boxes containing cards for Captain Tom in the Great Hall of the school, pictured. Mail center staff have reprogrammed sorting machines to separate mail from the veteran.
Fly to Spitfire Biggin Hill posted on Instagram an image of the plane stamped with the words’ Spirit of Kent ‘and the NHS logo, titled:’ Preparing for Spitfire’s aerial flight for Captain Tom’s 100th birthday.
‘Fingers crossed for approval and blue skies on day 30’.
Alex Monk, 21, of the Hangar, previously told The Telegraph: “ It will really be a moral boost for all of us to see a Spitfire in the sky.
“It has been a symbol of freedom in the past and an icon for Tom.”
The plan is for the Spirit of Kent, which was built in 1945 and flew on the commemorative flight of the Battle of Britain, to fly 500 feet and 250 mph above the former tank commander’s home in the village of Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire. .
A RAF team from the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar hopes to fly a Spitfire (pictured) beyond the hero’s house as a “little gesture” to celebrate his accomplishments.
Spitfire Spirit of Kent (pictured at Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar, Surrey), which was built in 1945 and flew on the commemorative flight of the Battle of Britain
The World War II veteran also wished the Queen a happy 94th birthday yesterday, saying, “Happy birthday, Your Majesty … Kind regards, Captain Tom Moore.”
Captain Tom’s daughter Lucy Teixeira said “I just can’t believe what happened” after her father’s fundraiser, and told BBC Breakfast: “My heart explodes … well done, Dad.”
She added: “I have to get used to the idea of sharing it with millions upon millions of people.”
Royal Mail will use a special postmark to wish Captain Tom a happy birthday, which will appear on all UK sealed emails starting next week.
Captain Tom has said that plans for his 100th birthday party were affected by the coronavirus blockade, but the large amount of support the country has expressed for him was “enough of a party for me.”
Captain Tom, in the photo, raised over £ 28 million for the NHS by walking 100 laps of his yard. World War II veteran wished the Queen a happy 94th birthday yesterday
He had started raising money to thank NHS staff for helping him with cancer treatment and a hip fracture, and has since released a version of “Never Never Walk Alone” with Michael Ball and the NHS Voices of Care Choir.
At time of writing, Captain Tom has raised over £ 28 million for the NHS on his JustGiving page, after completing his 100th lap.
People have started campaigns for Tom to be knighted and Tom said the generosity of the people had been incredible.
He said: ‘It’s amazing, it’s hard to imagine, that kind of money that has been coming in from kind people across the county.
“For the NHS and support people and all the doctors and services around the world, we have to say well done to all of you because you are putting yourself in danger and you are doing it cheerfully.”
It occurs when the UK yesterday announced another 828 coronavirus deaths, bringing Britain’s total death toll to 17,337.
