Captain Sir Tom Moore 'speechless' at Harrogate army training college honour

The Second World War veteran, who won the nation’s hearts when he raised almost £33m for the NHS by walking 100 laps of his garden to mark turning 100 in April, had the full VIP treatment at the “outstanding” Army Foundation College - including a military police escort for his journey.

During his visit, he described the college as a “marvellous place” and said he did not know whether he would have been capable of going through the training faced by today’s recruits.

“I never anticipated some time ago that I would get the opportunity or the privilege of coming here and I never knew that it’s such an outstanding operation,” he said. “I’ve never seen so many opportunities for young people as there is here.”

“When I was conscripted, one of the things I did when I joined the Army, I looked round to see all the other people and thought ‘I’m going to be the best’.

“Without climbing over anyone’s shoulders, just quietly get on and do your best and be your best.”

Keighley-born Captain Sir Tom watched junior soldiers take part in various activities at the military training venue, which trains 16 and 17-year-olds for a wide variety of Army careers, including a drill lesson, a personal development session and a demonstration on the high ropes.

Speaking about his appointment as Honorary Colonel, he said: “To go up in so many ranks so quickly, I’m really delighted with that and I know it’s only an honorary one but really I’m absolutely thrilled with the fact that the honour has been placed on me.

“It really is truly a great honour.”

At the end of the visit, the veteran, who took part in the Battle of Ramree Island, as part of the Burma campaign, during the Second World War, walked to the exit of the college to applause from junior soldiers, who flanked the 100m-long path, and stopped to talk to cadets along the way. Before he left the site, he was presented with a commemorative frame containing photos of the college and his visit and badges of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, in which he served, and the Army Foundation College.

He had earlier been given a colonel’s rank slide, which he wore on his tie during the visit.

Junior soldier Daniel Barker, 17, from Sheffield, described him as an “inspiration”.

He said: “He gave us some advice for our future, to understand how lucky we are because back in his day it was much different, he didn’t have the opportunities we have here at the college and to take full advantage of that.”

Captain Sir Tom had set out to raise £1,000 from his lockdown challenge but his efforts struck a chord and donations flooded in, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying he “provided us all with a beacon of light through the fog of coronavirus”.

From his garden to national treasure

Since setting off on the first lap of his Bedfordshire garden back when lockdown began, Captain Sir Tom Moore has raised £33m, become a knight, a poster child for Yorkshire and even received the freedom of his Yorkshire home town.

He had originally wanted to raise £1,000 for NHS Charities Together to thank staff who had helped his recovery from cancer and a broken hip - but instead, became a national treasure. He was knighted by the Queen at Windsor Castle in July, became an honorary freeman of Keighley last week, and an honorary member of Welcome to Yorkshire on Saturday, Yorkshire Day.