Happy birthday, Colonel Tom Moore.

[Steve H]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-52472132

[SusanDoris]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-52472132

Thank you for posting that link. I have just listened all the way through. I clicked on the fly past video and was able to see enough (when the two planes were being filmed against a clear sky). The portrait that painter was showing seems to be a very good one. 

[Roses]

Happy Birthday.

This gentleman deserves a knighthood.

[Steve H]

Happy Birthday.

This gentleman deserves a knighthood.

He's been made an honorary colonel - I think that's enough. Knighthoods and Damehoods are (in theory) for many years of sustained, high-level service to the nation (I say "in theory", because they too often go in practice to greedy, selfish bastards like Sir Philip Green, whose only sustained, high-level service is to his own enrichment.)

[Roses]

I am all for the honours system.

[Aruntraveller]

I am all for the honours system.

I'm not.

[SusanDoris]

Happy Birthday.

This gentleman deserves a knighthood.

Why? He is a lovely chap  and modest with it by the sound of it, but a knighthood? Why?

[Nearly Sane]

Why? He is a lovely chap  and modest with it by the sound of it, but a knighthood? Why?

while I'm with Trent and dislike the honours system I can't see why not here.

[Steve H]

while I'm with Trent and dislike the honours system I can't see why not here.

See my earlier post.

[Roses]

I am glad to see Tom Moore is getting a knighthood. 

[Steve H]

I am glad to see Tom Moore is getting a knighthood. 

Is he? I didn't see that. I certainly don't begrudge him it, but I think it's a bit over the top, for walking the length of his garden a hundred times. Knighthoods and Damehoods are usually, in theory at least, given for public service at a fairly high level for many years. I say "in theory", because in practice they are sometimes given to selfish, greedy bastards like Sir Philip Green.

[Roses]

Is he? I didn't see that. I certainly don't begrudge him it, but I think it's a bit over the top, for walking the length of his garden a hundred times. Knighthoods and Damehoods are usually, in theory at least, given for public service at a fairly high level for many years. I say "in theory", because in practice they are sometimes given to selfish, greedy bastards like Sir Philip Green.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-52735192

[jeremyp]

Is he? I didn't see that. I certainly don't begrudge him it, but I think it's a bit over the top, for walking the length of his garden a hundred times. Knighthoods and Damehoods are usually, in theory at least, given for public service at a fairly high level for many years. I say "in theory", because in practice they are sometimes given to selfish, greedy bastards like Sir Philip Green.

Actually, he's being knighted for raising £33 million for the NHS.

[Steve H]

Actually, he's being knighted for raising £33 million for the NHS.

By walking the length of his garden 100 times. It is remarkable how the donations skyrocketed once it became widely known about, but that's what he actually did. As I said, I don't begrudge him it, and I don't want to sound curmudgeonly, but I think this has more to do with cheap sentimentality than anything else, and is a bit out of proportion.

[Steve H]

Speaking generally about sponsored events, and not specifically about Captain Moore, there is a bit of a con-trick involved: someone does something very enjoyable, free of charge if they raise enough, like cycling the length of Cuba, running a marathon, sky-diving, or bungee-jumping, and lots of other people donate to a charity - but it's not the people who cough up who get the praise, but the person who had a great time, possibly for free!

[jeremyp]

By walking the length of his garden 100 times.

Which is a little bit more difficult for him aged 100 than for me.

It is remarkable how the donations skyrocketed once it became widely known about, but that's what he actually did. As I said, I don't begrudge him it, and I don't want to sound curmudgeonly, but I think this has more to do with cheap sentimentality than anything else, and is a bit out of proportion.

I kind of agree with you. He wouldn't have raised anything like that amount of money a year ago. The fact that it is at £33 million is entirely due to circumstances, but it's an easy thing for the government to do and the alternative would have very bad optics, even if technically correct.

[Steve H]

Which is a little bit more difficult for him aged 100 than for me.

Yes, it's quite an achievment, but he did get an honorary colonelship from his old regiment. What about the Indian bloke who did the London Marathon aged 100 a few years ago, presumably for a good cause, or the disabled woman who took sixteen days to do it on crutches?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fauja_Singh

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/may/08/paralysed-claire-lomas-london-marathon

[Udayana]

Speaking generally about sponsored events, and not specifically about Captain Moore, there is a bit of a con-trick involved: someone does something very enjoyable, free of charge if they raise enough, like cycling the length of Cuba, running a marathon, sky-diving, or bungee-jumping, and lots of other people donate to a charity - but it's not the people who cough up who get the praise, but the person who had a great time, possibly for free!

Good innit?

[jeremyp]

Yes, it's quite an achievment, but he did get an honorary colonelship from his old regiment. What about the Indian bloke who did the London Marathon aged 100 a few years ago, presumably for a good cause, or the disabled woman who took sixteen days to do it on crutches?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fauja_Singh

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/may/08/paralysed-claire-lomas-london-marathon

Did they raise £33 million?

[Steve H]

Did they raise £33 million?

Probably not, but as I've already pointed out, the way the the donations skyrocketed was not specifically thanks to him; it was because it caught the public imagination.

[jeremyp]

Probably not, but as I've already pointed out, the way the the donations skyrocketed was not specifically thanks to him; it was because it caught the public imagination.

I'm not really sure why you brought up those other cases. It's clear they didn't raise as much money as Captain Tom or capture the public's imagination like he did. It's no surprise they didn't get knighted.

[Steve H]

I'm not really sure why you brought up those other cases. It's clear they didn't raise as much money as Captain Tom or capture the public's imagination like he did. It's no surprise they didn't get knighted.

You are wilfully missing the point.