Captain Sir Tom Moore's funeral to be marked in Bradford

The Keighley-born former British Army officer, who raised almost £33million for NHS Charities Together in the run-up to his 100th birthday last year, died earlier this month.

Flags on civic buildings will be at half-mast across the Bradford district and the bells of Bradford City Hall clock tower will play Abide With Me and You’ll Never Walk Alone at 12pm as a tribute.

The bells of Bradford Cathedral will also toll 100 times from 6pm, once for each day of his life.

Council buildings including City Hall in the centre of Bradford also will be lit up in red, white and blue in the evening and overnight as a mark of respect.

The online Book of Condolence that was opened by Bradford Council will remain open this weekend and then be closed.

More than 200 people from all over have used it to record their own tributes to the proud Yorkshireman.

The book will be stored in the Local Studies archive as a record for future generations.

The online book of condolence can be signed at bradford.gov.uk/your-council/the-lord-mayor/captain-sir-tom-moore-messages/ Meanwhile, Bradford Council is supporting a fundraising campaign to install a bronze statue in the district.

Bradford Council backing fund plans to get bronze Captain Sir Tom Moore statue in his hometown

The life-size statue called ‘The Walk of Hope’ has been designed and commissioned by Tony Clarke and Keith Sharratt.

The two Yorkshire artists are now trying to raise £60,000 to cover the costs of the statue and it is hoped that it will eventually be installed in his home town of Keighley as a tribute to his extraordinary life and huge fundraising achievement.

To make a donation visit the Go Fund Me page at uk.gofundme.com/f/captain-sir-tom-moore-bronze-statue. If the target amount is exceeded, the excess funds will be shared between the Captain Tom Foundation and veterans’ charities.

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Doreen Lee, said: “We’re immensely proud of Captain Sir Tom Moore, a son of our district, born and bred in Keighley.

“On Saturday we will take a moment to remember him and his family and friends at this sad time.

“We will remember his determination and optimism to get the job done and of his true Yorkshire grit. I hope people from across our district will also take a moment to remember him.”

Very Revd Jerry Lepine, Dean of Bradford, said: "Every day in February we have been ringing our bell at 6pm as part of the national Prayer for the Nation, where we set aside time every evening to pray for those who have been affected by COVID-19.

“We pray for a different group every weekday, and on Saturdays it is for those who are grieving.

“On Saturday we will particularly remember Captain Tom, and his family.

“We will be ringing our bell 100 times in his memory, at 6pm, one toll for each year of his life, to mark his great work in raising money for NHS charities, and lifting the spirits of the nation in these difficult times.

“This will also be a chance for everyone to remember all those who are grieving, at this time, or in physical or mental ill-health, and to pray for them."