Captain Tom Moore celebrates a century by officially joining England cricket team on his 100th birthday

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Tom Doyle30 April 2020

Captain Tom Moore has officially been made an honourary member of the England cricket team on his 100th birthday.

Captain Moore has raised over £29million for charities that help front-line National Health Service staff by completing laps of his garden with the help of a walking frame, having initially set out to raise just £1,000.

Captain Moore's endeavours have earned him millions of fans across the world, and the World War Two veteran's 100th birthday saw an outpouring of celebrations and tributes.

The centenarian was awarded an honorary promotion to the rank of colonel, and treated to two military flypasts on Thursday morning.

And a sporting honour was also bestowed as former England captain Michael Vaughan wished Captain Moore happy birthday live on BBC Breakfast via video link. saying: "As you can see your grandkids are beside you.

"In 2005 I donated my blazer, my England umper, my tie and my cap to a charity, and a friend of mine, Howard Walker, bid for the whole item. Two weeks ago, Howard rang me and said 'I think we should be doing something in these times for the NHS.'

Straight away my mind triggered to you, I heard you were a huge cricket fan and I said to Howard: 'Why don't we give Tom, Captain Tom, the nation's heartbeat, with this on his birthday, and make him an official member of the England cricket team."

Vaughan then asked Captain Moore grandson, Benji, to place the cap on his grandfather's head.

BBC

Vaughan continued: "I was very privileged as an England captain to hand out an England cap to Stuart Broad back in Sri Lanka.

"Benji, this is your moment to give your grandad, who has been the nation's heartbeat for the last two or three weeks, you've done so much for the country, you've raised so much money for NHS, and now I can officially call you an honourary member of the England cricket team."

Captain Moore responded: "That's marvellous, isn't it! Thank you very much."

Asked how it felt to receive the cap from Vaughan, Tom said: "That's absolutely amazing. All that's happening to me, it's awesome.

"Never ever, three weeks ago, did I think we might get anything like this. It's difficult to say what would happen to you if this happened to you, you'd find it difficult to put into words."

A number of England stars past and present also filmed video messages for Captain Moore's birthday, with former captain Alex Stewart saying: "Happy birthday Captain Tom, 100 not out!

"As the big cricket fan I know you are, that's a special, special landmark. I was lucky enough to represent England at Test match level, I was cap number 543.

Joe Root said of his first cap: "It reminds me every time I see it of the sacrifice people have put into my cricket game, whether it be club cricket, county coaches, parents, grandparents ferrying me here, there and everywhere."

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