Captain Tom now gains a knighthood for walking around his garden 100 times over several days. Thousands toil for decades providing good service and get no reward. Granted he raised millions of pounds by doing this, but this was more the impact of the media than his hard work. I bet that he didn't even set up his own just giving page. I imagine his daughter did most of the heavy lifting. If your Just Giving page is featured on bbc breakfast and GMTV then it is going to increase contributions. People would donate to him rather than give to registered charities such as Oxfam. This is a triumph of media profile over hard work.

Yes GM, and a triumph of Government cynicism and distraction techniques over the millions who will recieve this as a "positive story", rather than as an intellectual laxative...

Sir Tom Moore KBE, Honorary Colonel and ex-army Captain, has raised nearly as much money for the NHS in two months as Savile did in his entire lifetime. He has achieved this without being a constant annoying, egotistical, smoke-riddled presence on our TV screens for over 40 years. I'll take my hat off to that!

robbiex wrote:
This is a triumph of media profile over hard work.

Often fame comes almost by accident - when TV and/or the internet are involved. Justin Bieber was discovered singing songs on YouTube, as a young amateur.

Something similar happened with Timberlake, Murs, Beyonce etc.

Even The Beatles conquered America after a massively successful appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show - in the early 60s.


However, although most performers crave screen coverage to generate interest in themselves - such publicly can also be damaging.

Poor Eurovision appearances, for example, have ended the careers of many fine acts - and Prince Andrew will regret his last TV chat.

But Sir Thomas Moore (II) is a clear testament to the media's power to do good - happily for a great cause.

Dr Strangelove wrote:
Sir Tom Moore KBE, Honorary Colonel and ex-army Captain, has raised nearly as much money for the NHS in two months as Savile did in his entire lifetime. He has achieved this without being a constant annoying, egotistical, smoke-riddled presence on our TV screens for over 40 years. I'll take my hat off to that!

Agree.

NHS staff are only doing what they are paid to do and following their job description.

Tom Moore, reminds me of the old bloke who traveled across USA to see his dying brother by riding on a lawn mower. He turned down numerous offers and money,he just wanted to see his brother.

What's stopping Robbiex fund raising, or is too much hard work?

Dr Strangelove wrote:
Sir Tom Moore KBE, Honorary Colonel and ex-army Captain, has raised nearly as much money for the NHS in two months as Savile did in his entire lifetime. He has achieved this without being a constant annoying, egotistical, smoke-riddled presence on our TV screens for over 40 years. I'll take my hat off to that!

Sir Tom didn't achieve this - well intentioned though I'm sure he was. The media and Government spinning Sir Tom and Sir Tom achieved this.

If it's to be a choice between Sir Tom and Sir Jim, then I'll plump for Sir Tom, purely because I like him.

Green Man wrote:
Dr Strangelove wrote:
Sir Tom Moore KBE, Honorary Colonel and ex-army Captain, has raised nearly as much money for the NHS in two months as Savile did in his entire lifetime. He has achieved this without being a constant annoying, egotistical, smoke-riddled presence on our TV screens for over 40 years. I'll take my hat off to that!

Agree.

NHS staff are only doing what they are paid to do and following their job description.

Tom Moore, reminds me of the old bloke who traveled across USA to see his dying brother by riding on a lawn mower. He turned down numerous offers and money,he just wanted to see his brother.

What's stopping Robbiex fund raising, or is too much hard work?

Well actually I volunteered as an nhs volunteer despite working full-time at home, although they were over-subscribed so I wasn't required.

I ran the London Marathon 10 years ago for Alzheimers, this was a lot more effort than walking about 1km a day for weeks, even when you are 99, although I have to admit I only earned £500 as I ididn't feature on bbc brekkie. I don't blame Captain Tom, I'm sure he is as fed up with all the press attention as we are. Just another viral distraction story to fill time on GMTV, bbc breakfast and other news shows. It stops people talking about the failure to get to grips with testing or why testing was abandoned early on.

I was thinking the same thing when I heard the news of the knighthood, that he was essentially a hero created by the media, then thought I was being a bit churlish. 100 laps is quite a feat for a centenarian, when you consider that most people don't reach that age and many who are decades younger are confined to mobility scooters. But, yes, all the people "rewarded" with BEMs for a lifetime's work are probably feeling a bit sore.

robbiex wrote:
Green Man wrote:
Dr Strangelove wrote:
Sir Tom Moore KBE, Honorary Colonel and ex-army Captain, has raised nearly as much money for the NHS in two months as Savile did in his entire lifetime. He has achieved this without being a constant annoying, egotistical, smoke-riddled presence on our TV screens for over 40 years. I'll take my hat off to that!

Agree.

NHS staff are only doing what they are paid to do and following their job description.

Tom Moore, reminds me of the old bloke who traveled across USA to see his dying brother by riding on a lawn mower. He turned down numerous offers and money,he just wanted to see his brother.

What's stopping Robbiex fund raising, or is too much hard work?

Well actually I volunteered as an nhs volunteer despite working full-time at home, although they were over-subscribed so I wasn't required.

I ran the London Marathon 10 years ago for Alzheimers, this was a lot more effort than walking about 1km a day for weeks, even when you are 99, although I have to admit I only earned £500 as I ididn't feature on bbc brekkie. I don't blame Captain Tom, I'm sure he is as fed up with all the press attention as we are. Just another viral distraction story to fill time on GMTV, bbc breakfast and other news shows. It stops people talking about the failure to get to grips with testing or why testing was abandoned early on.

I congratulate you on doing a marathon. I tried training but ankles are too arthritic. I not fed up hearing about Tom, I'm fed up with fake news from the MSM.

Sky News keep going on about Andrew Coumo, when he's dad was Mayer he was a second class gangster. An acquaintance I knew in NYC back then was getting pay offs from him.

Tom Moore didn’t expect a knighthood for doing this; it just so happens that it came as an unexpected bonus, the icing on the cake if you will.

Dr Strangelove wrote:
Tom Moore didn’t expect a knighthood for doing this; it just so happens that it came as an unexpected bonus, the icing on the cake if you will.

How does not expecting a knighthood tell us anything about the merit of those recieving a knighthood?