Captain Tom’s history in motorcycles
Earlier this year, World War II veteran, Captain Tom Moore, became a worldwide sensation when he pledged to walk 100 laps of his garden ahead of his 100th birthday, with the goal of raising money for Britain’s National Health Service (NHS). But the charity phenomenon’s enthusiasm for motorcycles has only recently come to light, following the airing of a new documentary in the UK.
1,000 to 33 million
Moore decided to do his 100-lap (2.5km) walk as a way to give something back to the NHS doctors and nurses that, back in 2018, treated him for skin cancer and a broken hip after a fall.
Starting on 6 April, Moore’s goal was to complete the 100 laps before his 100th birthday on 30 April and raise £1,000 for the NHS, but that humble total became something much bigger when the British media got a hold of it.
By the time Moore had completed his 100 laps, more than £500,000 (AU$936,000 approx.) had been raised, which spurred the 99-year-old to keep walking. On his 100th birthday, Moore’s inspirational effort had raised almost £33 million (AU$61.8 million approx.) for an NHS that was battling under the pressures of the coronavirus.
The total was recognized in the Guinness World Records as the largest raised by an individual charity walk. Soon after, Moore set another record - for the oldest person to have a number one single on the UK charts with a song he recorded in partnership with UK singer, Michael Ball, and the NHS Voices for Care Choir.
Further honours followed for Moore, topped by a knighthood (Knight Bachelor, officially), which was confirmed on 20 May and performed by Queen Elizabeth II on 17 July.
Early Passion for Bikes
Now officially Captain Sir Tom Moore, the fundraising phenomenon has been the subject of several TV documentaries in the past few months, including one that focused on the WWII veteran’s love of motorcycles. Filmed in the same garden where Moore completed his laps, the documentary featured trials legend Dougie Lampkin, but Moore was obviously the star.
The high-profile centenarian says that his passion for motorcycles started young and was fuelled by his uncle Billy who made a name for himself riding Scott motorcycles in various competitions and publicity events (Scott’s factory in Shipley was close to Moore’s childhood home in Keighley in the north of England).
Classic car and motorcycle auction house, H&H Classics, contributed to the program, providing vintage motorcycles of the type that Moore rode, restored and enjoyed in his younger days.
Mark Bryan of H&H Classics sourced a 1920s Royal Enfield Model 200 for the documentary, supplied by Hitchcocks Motorcycles in Solihull.
The Model 200 is significant as it was the first motorcycle that Moore owned. As a 12-year-old, Moore discovered the broken-down Royal Enfield in a barn, bought it and restored it to running condition.
A BSA M21 was next, before war intervened and Moore was conscripted, but he still found a way to keep riding, first as a way to move quickly between armoured units and front line soldiers during the Burma campaign, then training despatch riders.
Post War Riding
After the war, Moore continued riding, including in club-level trials on a 1920s-era Scott two-stroke twin, picking up several trophies before work and family became a priority.
For the documentary, Moore was treated to a bike show in his garden, with a Scott Two-Speed (like the one that he and his uncle Billy rode), Excelsior Manxman and a veteran outfit (possibly a C1912 Triumph) with a wicker sidecar joining the 1920 Royal Enfield Model 200 provided by H&H Classics.
“It was an absolute honour to be able to help out, even in such a such a small way,” said H&H Classics’ Mark Bryan. “Sir Tom’s infectious enthusiasm and knowledge of motorcycling is quite amazing.”
This past June, the Scott that Moore rode in the ‘50s was discovered in the Bradford Industrial Museum in the north of England.
Moore in Print
Described as "a beacon of light through the fog of coronavirus," Captain Tom continues to inspire, with dozens of people conducting similar walks for charity in recent months. Moore’s autobiography, Tomorrow Will Be A Good Day, is scheduled for publication in September, 2020.
