Captain Sir Tom Moore’s funeral will feature a spectacular RAF flypast



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CAPTAIN Sir Tom Moore’s funeral today will feature a spectacular RAF flight as his family asked supporters to “stay home.”

The veteran’s farewell will be “spectacular” with soldiers carrying the coffin, as well as a salute of arms from his former regiment.

The fundraising hero's funeral will take place today.

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The fundraising hero’s funeral will take place today.Credit: reuters
Lucy Teixeira with her father, Captain Sir Tom Moore

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Lucy Teixeira with her father, Captain Sir Tom MooreCredit: pa
The C-47 Dakota, part of the Battle of Britain commemorative flight operating from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, will perform the flypast

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The C-47 Dakota, part of the Battle of Britain commemorative flight operating from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, will perform the flypastCredit: Bav Media

The C-47 Dakota, part of the Battle of Britain Commemorative Flight operating from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, will flypast.

Sir Tom’s centennial celebrations last year included a Spitfire flypast and he was caught hitting the air as he passed.

Soldiers from the Yorkshire Regiment will carry his coffin to the crematorium today, with a firing squad, a bugle and a ceremonial guard also part of the service.

Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said: “In national emergencies, ordinary people do extraordinary things and inspire us all to come together to overcome adversity.

“Few will have heard of Sir Tom before this crisis, but his contribution and example now lives on in all of us.

“The military is immensely proud to contribute to the celebration of his extraordinary life of service.”

Sir Tom's 100th anniversary celebrations last year included a Spitfire flypast

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Sir Tom’s 100th anniversary celebrations last year included a Spitfire flypastCredit: UK MOD? Crown Copyright 2020 This image may be used for current information purposes only. It’s ma
Sir Tom, whose final farewell is today, served with the Duke of Wellington's Regiment during World War II

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Sir Tom, whose final farewell is today, served with the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment during World War II.Credit: Reuters

Sir Tom, whose last dismissal is today, served in the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment during World War II.

It later merged with two others from Yorkshire, becoming the Yorkshire Regiment, and Sir Tom was made Honorary Colonel last August.

Six soldiers from the regiment will carry Sir Tom’s coffin to the crematorium near his family’s home in Bedfordshire.

His 52-year-old daughter Lucy Teixeira said the service will be “quite spectacular,” adding: “We will be the eight under Covid restrictions, we will honor it in the best way possible.

“My sister and I have been creating the funeral that my father wanted.

“He was very clear in his wishes and if they had put it in a cardboard box, he would have done it, instead of cutting down a tree.”

She says the family has received many messages from supporters and that it was “wonderful” to see people writing in an online book of condolences.

A group of 14 will each fire three rounds in unison, and a cornet will play The Last Post at the end of private service.

Six representatives from the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, where Sir Tom was appointed Honorary Colonel, will form a ceremonial guard.

The Queen awards Captain Tom the Knight Bachelor Badge at Windsor Castle

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The Queen awards Captain Tom the Knight Bachelor Badge at Windsor CastleCredit: Getty
Yorkshire Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Miller greets Captain Tom Moore ahead of his 100th birthday in April last year.

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Yorkshire Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Miller greets Captain Tom Moore ahead of his 100th birthday in April last year.Credit: Avalon

Sir Tom passed away at age 100 at Bedford Hospital on February 2 after testing positive for Covid-19.

The war hero raised over £ 32 million for the NHS with his sponsored walk through his garden at the first closing.

His funeral will be attended by eight members of his immediate family: his two daughters Hannah Ingram-Moore and Lucy Teixeira, four grandchildren and their sons-in-law.

Sir Tom requested that Frank Sinatra’s My Way be performed at his funeral and that his epitaph read ‘I told you I was old’, in reference to the famous epitaph of comedian Spike Milligan ‘I told you I was sick’.

The family has urged people to support the NHS by staying home.

Once Covid-19 restrictions allow, they will bury Sir Tom’s ashes in Yorkshire, with his parents and grandparents in the Moore family plot.

The veteran raised over £ 32 million for the NHS with his garden-sponsored walk in the first closing.

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The veteran raised over £ 32 million for the NHS with his garden-sponsored walk in the first closing.Credit: Reuters
Captain Sir Tom Moore’s daughter Hannah struggles to hold back tears as Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid pay tribute to the ‘extraordinary’ hero



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