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Tributes have been paid to NHS hero Captain Sir Tom Moore following his death.
The charity fundraiser passed away today aged 100 in Bedford after being treated for pneumonia for some time and testing positive for coronavirus last week.
In a statement, his daughters Hannah and Lucy said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our dear father, Captain Sir Tom Moore.
“We are so grateful that we were with him during the last hours of his life; Hannah, Benjie and Georgia by his bedside and Lucy on FaceTime. We spent hours chatting to him, reminiscing about our childhood and our wonderful mother. We shared laughter and tears together.
“The last year of our father’s life was nothing short of remarkable. He was rejuvenated and experienced things he’d only ever dreamed of.”
Folkestone and Hythe MP Damian Collins said that Sir Tom had been "an inspiration for the whole country".
He said: "He has touched our lives with his example and will again as we mourn his passing".
"A lifetime of service and courage. Thank you..."
North Thanet representative Sir Roger Gale said that the NHS hero was "an amazing man who lived a great and full life, captured the heart of the nation and made us smile in the darkness".
Echoing his peers, Tonbridge MP Tom Tugenhat simply tweeted: "A lifetime of service and courage. Thank you".
A Kent Fire and Rescue Services spokesman said: "Our thoughts are with Captain Sir Tom Moore's family.
"May this remarkable man rest in peace."
The Kent Police Specials account tweeted: "What a true hero in all of this uncertainty, he showed us all that at any age you can follow your dreams and be an inspiration to so many.
"May he rest in peace knowing what a huge difference he had."
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said that the vereran's "courage, compassion, resilience, hope and generosity have been an inspiration for millions, and an example for us all."
The official Canterbury Cathedral added: "Our prayers are with his family and loved ones".
The former tank officer – originally from Yorkshire – revealed in an interview in April 2020 how he met the love of his life after the war, a girl from Gravesend.
Capt Moore told the Daily Mail his heartwarming story of falling in love with his beloved late wife, Pamela.
Watch: Elizabeth Turpin from Chatham shares her father's experience of working with Captain Tom
The pair were working together for a roofing materials company.
Pamela was the office manager for the firm's headquarters in Gravesend while Capt Moore worked as a sales manager in his native Yorkshire.
He recalled the times driving down to Kent on multiple occasions to see Pamela for work and their romance blossomed.
"As it so happened, the office manager in Gravesend was a rather attractive young lady – she looked terrific to me, like a model – so I had to do various trips and, shall we say, the attraction with the office manager became stronger and I eventually married her," he said.
The pair would often take trips to Marks & Spencer which Capt Moore described as his wife's "dream day out" so he recalls doing that a lot together, he said.
Mayor of Gravesham, Cllr John Caller said: "It is with great sadness that we hear of the passing of Captain Sir Tom Moore, he gave the nation hope during the dark days of this Pandemic.
"He showed the fighting spirit and British stiff upper lip that carried him through his 100 years, and carried us with him on those 100 Laps.
"What he did for the morale of the whole nation cannot be measured, he inspired many, unified the country, and was a beacon of hope for a brighter future.
"We at Gravesham are proud of the link with Captain Sir Tom Moore.
"What he did for the morale of the whole nation cannot be measured..."
"His legacy is that through his efforts the health of the whole nation is improved.
"He thanked us for our kindness whilst he raised £33m, we thank him for giving the nation hope, your light shines on, your name will be mentioned when great British heroes are talked about."
