Captain Sir Tom Moore: Guard Of Honour As Ashes Laid To Rest

Captain Sir Tom Moore's ashes have been buried in his family grave alongside his parents and grandparents.

His close relatives walked through a guard of honour made up of schoolchildren and organisations close to his heart to his final resting place in Morton Cemetery, Riddlesden, West Yorkshire, on Monday.

The Second World War veteran, who became a national treasure after raising more than £32m for the NHS by walking 100 laps of his garden, died aged 100 on 2 February after testing positive for COVID-19.

About 50 representatives of organisations including the NHS, Royal British Legion, Scouts and Guides lined the path through the cemetery, on the outskirts of Keighley.

Sir Tom's two daughters – Hannah Ingram-Moore and Lucy Teixeira – two of his grandchildren and his sons-in-law chatted and shared stories with those on the honour guard as they walked from their cars to the grave, just a few yards from Riddlesden's war memorial.

The Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire Ed Anderson greeted Captain Sir Tom's family and Keighley Town Chaplain the Reverend Dr Jonathan Pritchard conducted a short service at the graveside as his ashes were placed in the ground.

In line with Sir Tom's wishes, his family had the words "I told you I was old" engraved on the 7ft-high family memorial stone above the grave, under a silhouette image of the 100-year-old former Army officer.

Rev Pritchard said: "This is the most immense privilege to be here serving in this way in this last living act for Captain Sir Tom Moore, here in Keighley.

"He was an extraordinary man who's made a real significant difference in the life of our nation.

"He's lifted our spirits and raised our vision about what is possible," he added.

As well as the emergency services, more than a dozen organisations were represented at the cemetery including Keighley Healthy Living, the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, Keighley Cougars Rugby Club and the Bangladeshi Community Association.

The event was distinctly low-key in contrast to Sir Tom's funeral earlier this year which, despite his close family being the only mourners due to COVID restrictions, featured a fly-past and the military honour of a firing party.

Rev Pritchard said the family told him Sir Tom would have wanted just a simple service, and Monday's ceremony lasted about 15 minutes.

Cover image: Close-up of the gravestone on the family grave where Captain Sir Tom Moore's ashes were buried (Picture: PA/Alamy).