TRIBUTE TO TOM
What time is the clap for Captain Sir Tom Moore tonight?
FUNDRAISING maestro Captain Sir Tom Moore will be honoured tonight with a national clap.
Boris Johnson has encouraged the public to join in the round of applause for the inspirational war veteran who died from Covid on February 2, 2021.
Follow the latest news and tributes to Captain Tom Moore on our live blog...
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What time is the clap tonight?
The Prime Minister told the Commons the clap would take place at 6pm on the evening of February 3, 2021.
Earlier MPs observed a minute’s silence in memory of Sir Tom and the tens of thousands of other people who have died so far in the pandemic.
Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said of Sir Tom: "His dignity and determination in raising money to support the NHS charities caught the nation’s mood at the most difficult time.
"He exemplified the best of our values."
The clap will follow a press conference led by Boris Johnson.
Why are we clapping?
The PM told MPs: "We all now have the opportunity to show our appreciation for him and all that he stood for and believed in.
"That is why I encourage everyone to join in a national clap for Captain Tom and all those health workers for whom he raised money at 6pm this evening."
It comes after a social media campaign calling for the gesture amid an outpouring of tributes from around the world.
On April 5, 2020, when Captain Tom began to gingerly walk the first of 100 sponsored laps of his family home in Bedfordshire with the aid of a two-wheeled walking frame, £1,000 seemed an impossible aim.
But the World War Two veteran, who fought in a tank regiment against the Japanese in Burma, smashed his target within a few days.
By his 100th birthday he had walked 200 laps and collected £32,796,436 in donations — the largest sum raised by one person.
With Gift Aid added by many of the 1.5million people who gave money to his Just Giving page, the final total was £38.9million for NHS charities.
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more on sir tom
How can I join in?
You can clap out of your window or doorway of your home.
But make sure you keep a social distance and wear a mask.
A tweet from Captain Sir Tom Moore's Twitter account said the family were "incredibly touched" that his memory will be honoured with a national clap.
Floral tributes laid for Captain Sir Tom Moore outside his home after hero dies aged 100
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