Captain Sir Tom Moore sculptor in race to find £9,000 needed to complete the statue

A sculptor’s pledge to honour Yorkshire-born Captain Sir Tom Moore in bronze is drawing close to fruition with just days remaining to raise a final £9,000.
Artist Andrian Melka works on his Captain Sir Tom Moore sculpture at his studio near York. Picture : Jonathan GawthorpeArtist Andrian Melka works on his Captain Sir Tom Moore sculpture at his studio near York. Picture : Jonathan Gawthorpe
Artist Andrian Melka works on his Captain Sir Tom Moore sculpture at his studio near York. Picture : Jonathan Gawthorpe

The Second World War veteran, who died in February after raising nearly £33m for the NHS, inspired countless people nationwide with his determination and spirit.

Sculptor Andrian Melka, who has launched a crowdfunding campaign for a fitting tribute to Sir Tom to be placed at Leeds’ Chapel Allerton Hospital, is working on the bronze statue.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The 6ft sculpture is aimed at inspiring rehabilitation patients, staff and visitors at the hospital to keep “putting one front in front of the other” as a reminder of what can be achieved.

Artist Andrian Melka works on his Captain Sir Tom Moore sculpture at his studio near York. Picture : Jonathan GawthorpeArtist Andrian Melka works on his Captain Sir Tom Moore sculpture at his studio near York. Picture : Jonathan Gawthorpe
Artist Andrian Melka works on his Captain Sir Tom Moore sculpture at his studio near York. Picture : Jonathan Gawthorpe

More than £19,000 has already been pledged in donations from well-wishers to the campaign, which has until April 11 to raise £28,500. The statue will portray the 100-year-old fundraiser, who was born in Keighley, giving the thumbs-up as he completed laps of his Bedfordshire garden.

Read More
Obituary: Yorkshire-born war veteran and 100-year-old NHS fundraiser Captain Sir...

“He was a ray of hope at a time when everybody was quite down,” said Mr Melka. “It showed that anything can be done if you carry on forward.”

Mr Melka’s fundraising page can be found online at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/creating-a-bronze-statue-of-captain-sir-tom-moore

Related topics: