Captain Sir Tom Moore: Queen leads tributes for Captain Sir Tom Moore

Tributes continue to flood in for Captain Sir Tom Moore, the 100-year-old who raised £33m for NHS charities.

Capt Sir Tom died at Bedford Hospital on Tuesday, two days after being admitted with breathing problems.

The Queen led the condolences and was sending her own private message to the family, Buckingham Palace said.

"Her thoughts, and those of the Royal Family, are with them, recognising the inspiration he provided for the whole nation and others across the world."

Capt Sir Tom was awarded a knighthood from the Queen in the summer at Windsor Castle - an honour he said left him "absolutely overawed".

As well as Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Labour leader Keir Starmer, celebrities and public figures paid their respects to the veteran fundraiser.

TV mathematician Carol Vorderman, who hosted the Pride of Britain Awards, which honoured Capt Sir Tom, called for a permanent tribute.

"I think he deserves a stone in Westminster Abbey because I think he embodies this whole terrible pandemic which we are all living through," she said.

"So many have lost their grandmas and their granddads, their fathers and their mothers, their sisters, their brothers, and I think he embodies that and we loved him."

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby called him "the very best of us".

Michael Ball, who sang with Capt Sir Tom on the number one single You'll Never Walk Alone, paid tribute to "a hero and a fighter to the very end".

Meanwhile former JLS boy band member Oritse Williams wrote a poem in tribute.

The British Army also paid tribute, posting a video of its veteran on Twitter, describing him as "an exceptional man and soldier to the end".

Capt Sir Tom was made an honorary colonel last year by the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, Yorkshire on his 100th birthday.

He visited the college in September where he talked to junior soldiers about his war-time experiences.

Lt Col Simon Fairbrother who offered his condolences to the family said it was "pretty rare" to give out such a title.

"I was absolutely delighted to salute him on that day."

Sir Tom's fundraising efforts went on to inspire others to take on similar charity challenges, including Dabirul Islam Choudhury, who raised more than £420,000 by walking 970 laps of his communal garden in London while fasting during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Mr Choudhury said: "He is our real hero and we will miss him terribly."

And radio presenter Zoe Ball said the "magical chap" would be "forever in our hearts".

Former England football captain David Beckham called him "the very best of British", sharing a video of their meeting last year, when Capt Sir Tom was presented with a commemorative shirt for his achievements.

"What he achieved for our NHS will never be forgotten," wrote Beckham, adding he was "a true hero".

Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton tweeted that he was "honoured to have had the opportunity to be able to tell him how in awe of him I was".

"Captain Sir Tom was a true hero and we will never forget the incredible man who brought out the best of us at such a difficult time," the seven-times world champion from Stevenage said.

Nick Knowles, the host of DIY SOS, who helped build a fence around Capt Sir Tom's home to guard against media intrusion, said the veteran had forged a connection with the country.

"The fact he was 100 years old, saying, 'It will be okay' - he became everyone's grandfather, everyone's father, everyone's voice of authority and positivity, when we desperately needed it in this country," he said.

TV presenters Ant and Dec called him "a hero" who inspired the nation when it needed it most.

Good Morning Britain's Susanna Reid said she was "heartbroken" to hear of the fundraiser's death.

Former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan - who gave Capt Sir Tom an England cricket cap on his 100th birthday - described him as the person "that's been our heartbeat & inspiration".

NHS Charities Together said it was "devastated" and thanked Capt Sir Tom for the money he raised, adding: "We owe him so much."

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