A beautiful memorial bench celebrating the life of Captain Sir Tom Moore has been installed at the inspirational fundraiser’s local railway station in Bedfordshire.
Captain Tom’s daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore was the guest of honour at the ceremony to unveil the bench at Millbrook station, operated by London Northwestern Railway.
The bench was funded by the Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership (CRP) and Marston Moreteyne Parish Council and now takes pride of place on the platform next to a specially-commissioned poem in Captain Tom’s honour which was installed last year.
The centenarian, who died in February, raised more than £32million for NHS Charities Together by walking the length of his garden in the run-up to his 100th birthday in April 2020.
Lawrence Bowman, customer experience director for London Northwestern Railway, said:
“Through his inspirational attitude and incredible fundraising Captain Tom united the whole country and I am delighted we have been able to help his local community honour his memory in this way.
“I am grateful to the hard work of the Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership and the local parish council for their work which will help rail passengers reflect on Captain Tom’s life while they travel.”
Hannah Ingram-Moore said: “I was incredibly proud to reveal this beautiful bench for my father, which is something everyone can enjoy when they visit this beautifully-maintained station in our home county.
“My father was so invested in the local community and I know he would have been thrilled to hear about the passion and dedication of the volunteers who uphold Millbrook station.”
Stephen Sleight, from the Marston Vale CRP, said: “It was a great privilege to welcome Hannah to Millbrook station to unveil this stunning bench. Captain Tom was such an inspiration to the whole country and I am delighted there is now a permanent reminder of him at a station he knew so well.”
Mr Sleight also offered his thanks to bench designers Roll & Scroll Ltd, Marston Moreteyne Parish Council, the Friends of Millbrook Station – whose members have cared for the station with dedication for the past decade – and to CRP member Andy Buckley, who initially suggested the memorial bench.
Among the guests at the unveiling ceremony were representatives from the CRP, the parish council, London Northwestern Railway, the Friends of Millbrook Station, the Bedford to Bletchley Rail Users Association and the Royal British Legion, including Bedfordshire county president Eric Robinson MBE.
