Captain Sir Tom Moore's family will eat Victoria sponge cake and sandwiches after his funeral - and he was "very pleased" he wouldn't have to make them.
Captain Sir Tom Moore
The army veteran - who raised more than £32 million for charity amid the coronavirus pandemic - passed away earlier this month, aged 100, and his daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore has revealed Captain Tom gave his family "really clear" plans for his own funeral.
She explained: "We were really close, we talked about everything. Of course he was older, the concept of talking about his death was a real one.
"His wishes were really clear, he said he would like to be cremated, he would like his ashes to be taken up to the family grave in Yorkshire and he was also very prescriptive about the songs that he wanted to be played and that he wanted us to have Victoria sponge cake and sandwiches afterwards and he was very pleased he wouldn’t be having to make them."
Captain Tom died in hospital after being treated for pneumonia and testing positive for COVID-19.
But Hannah has revealed he insisted on having a tongue-in-cheek comment on his tombstone.
Asked if it's true that Captain Tom told the family to have "told you I was old" on his tombstone, she replied: "It really is [true].
"He had a sense of humour, that humour runs in the family. He said he just wanted people to look and not be sad, and give us a bit of joy.”
Hannah remains amazed by Captain Tom's achievements in 2020, which included raising millions for charity, becoming the oldest person to achieve a UK number one and receiving a knighthood from the Queen.
And she thinks Captain Tom can now "rest easily" knowing the impact he's had on the lives of people around the country.
She told 'Good Morning Britain': "I just can’t tell you how thrilled, how proud he was to feel his legacy could give hope to other people, to inspire hope where it was needed most. And he really believed it.
"Those conversations we were having right to the end ... he said he would be back out and he would be fundraising and I don’t think he could quite believe that one person could have had so much impact. But he was so happy that if just his voice could support other people, he could really rest easily."
Captain Tom's family confirmed yesterday (22.02.21) that his funeral will take place on Saturday (27.02.21).
They said in a statement: "Sadly, like so many other families affected by the pandemic, we have no choice but to hold a small family funeral, which will take place this Saturday. Whilst we understand so many people wish to pay their respects to our father, we ask that the public and the press continue to support the NHS by staying at home.
"We have been contacted by so many people asking what they can do to honour our father, so we have set up an online book of condolence. People can also donate The Captain Tom Foundation, plant a tree in his memory or donate to a charity of your choice.
"In the last few months of his life, our father had spent many enjoyable hours writing a book he chose to call 'Captain Tom's Life Lessons', which he planned to release just before his 101st birthday. Sadly, he'll never get to share this with you personally.
"The final chapter is so poignant and reading it brings us so much comfort and warmth, so we share the last chapter now as a thank you, from our father Tom and us as a family, for the love and kindness the nation and the world have shown him."
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