PUNTERS are threatening to boycott a pub after its mural of Captain Sir Tom Moore was painted over. Regulars at the The Malt Shovel in Pontefract, North Yorkshire were left fuming when they discovered that the image of the late soldier had been removed on Friday. The mural of Captain Sir Tom Moore before it was removed from The Malt Shovel Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media The image is no longer seen on the boozer’s exterior wall Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media The iconic mural was painted in April 2020 by artist Rachel List features Captain Tom on the boozer’s exterior wall. Some locals have pointed the finger at Captain Tom’s daughter, Hannah Ingram-Moore for allegedly “destroying his legacy”. Hannah has come under heavy scrutiny following her father’s death in 2021. She revealed that she pocketed £800,000 from the three books her dad had written in an interview with Piers Morgan in October. She claimed he wanted his family to keep the profits. She added that she was paid £18,000 to attend the Captain Tom awards – but only donated £2,000 of it to his charity. Revellers have rallied to demand the mural be repainted – insisting that Tom’s memory shouldn’t be “erased” on account of his daughter’s actions. The landlady appeared to respond on
Social Media to the outrage and said she never “intended to upset anyone with the renovations” and “personally had no say in the developments”. Meanwhile, artist Rachel defended the decision to remove the mural, adding that it was never intended to remain there permanently. “From day one that wall wasn’t in very good condition so it’s been four years now and the mural has been peeling off,” she said. “It couldn’t last forever and I think people need to remember it brought a lot of joy while it was there and the memories don’t just go away because the mural is gone. Inside abandoned Morrisons store closed in Covid that’s sat empty for 4 years with old TV guides littered everywhere “I see why people would want it to stay but it’s definitely not a malicious thing and the fact it was there for so long shows that they were preserving it. “None of the murals were intended to be permanent. “I’m not saying any of us wanted it gone but there were reasons for it. “Others have been painted over elsewhere and they’ve not received that sort of backlash. “People are too quick to turn to negativity.”
Facebook users have since launched a Yorkshire-based page slamming the decision to remove the image. It couldn’t last forever and I think people need to remember it brought a lot of joy while it was there and the memories don’t just go away because the mural is gone Rachel List The post said: “Captain Tom’s mural in Pontefract has been erased as the popular artwork is painted over, but the artist who created the piece supports the move.” Many users alleged that Hannah’s controversial actions have hampered Captain Tom’s legacy. One said: “Sadly his memory is overlooked by what his daughter did.” A second agreed and added: “His legacy has been destroyed by his daughter sadly.” A third called the mural to be reinstated and said: “His legacy should continue regardless of his daughter’s actions. His heart was in the right place so put him back!” Another user added: “Why should he be forgotten for the actions of his greedy daughter? He did a marvellous thing for a wonderful cause and raised an amazing amount of money for the NHS.” A spokesperson for Stonegate, who own The Malt Shovel, said: “Our operators at The Maltshovel in Pontefract are delighted to welcome guests back to the pub following an exciting and transformational refurbishment. “The much-loved High Street local operates as part of Craft Union, the fastest growing operator-led pub company, which prides itself in placing pubs at the heart of the local community. “We hope that locals and tourists alike love the new look and feel. For further information, please visit the pubs website.” THE SPA In 2021 the council gave the green light for a new office building at the Bedfordshire home for Hannah and Colin to run the charity. Hannah and husband Colin had applied in their own names for planning — but used the foundation’s name in the design and access and heritage statement. The application claimed it the The Captain Tom Building and said it was to be used partly “in connection with The Captain Tom Foundation and its charitable objectives”. But the family instead built a 50ft by 20ft pool house with spa, changing rooms, toilets and showers in the garden of their £1.2 home in Marston Moretaine. They filed a retrospective application for the add-on, but it was refused. A court heard the add-on later “evolved” to include the spa pool. Chartered surveyor James Paynter, speaking for the family in court, suggested it could be used for “rehabilitation sessions for elderly people in the area”. But Richard Proctor, Planning Enforcement Team Leader, said: “The Council’s position is that the building is wholly different to the application.” The £200,000 spa complex was ordered to be torn down by February 7 this year. Scaffolders arrived at the home on Tuesday, with a section of the roof removed the following day and the crane removing the spa pool on Friday afternoon. FROM NHS HERO TO SPA CARNAGE How the Captain Tom Moore story unfolded: March 2020- D-Day veteran Captain Tom Moore walks 100 laps around his Bedfordshire garden before his 100th birthday, raising £30million for the NHS during the first lockdown June 2020 – Captain Tom Foundation established by daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore April 2020 – Captain Tom walks laps of his Bedfordshire garden for NHS Charities Together, raises over £39 million July 2020 – Captain Tom is knighted by the
Queen in a special private ceremony at
Windsor Castle September 2020 – Hannah Ingram-Moore launches the Captain Tom Foundation to combat loneliness December 2020 – Drones swarm into the shape of Captain Tom’s face at the New Year’s Eve firework display in
London February 2021 – Captain Tom dies after contracting Covid-19 2021 – Council give permission to build garden office for foundation February 2022 – The Charity Commission launches a probe into the Captain Tom Foundation after it paid £50,000 to companies run by Hannah Ingram-Moore and her husband Colin June 2022 – Charity commission investigates questions over foundation finances July 2023 – The foundation stops accepting donations. Planning chiefs order Hannah to tear down an unauthorised spa at her Bedfordshire home. The building had been approved to be used “in connection with the Captain Tom Foundation and its charitable objectives”. But a larger building with a spa pool was built instead and was denied retrospective planning permission. Hannah appeals September 2023 – Accounts reveal Hannah received more than £70,000 to head the foundation October 2023 – Hannah loses her appeal and is ordered to demolish the spa and restore the garden to its original condition January 2023 – Demolition work begins February 7, 2024 – Spa complex due to be demolished Workers removed his
BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award and Guinness Book of Records certificate from the building. The daughter of the beloved war hero looked downcast as she watched demolition workers remove roof tiles, a sink, a toilet, and a home cinema from the site on Thursday. Locals told of the family’s “embarrassment” on Wednesday while celebrating its imminent destruction. Neighbours say they have “spoilt everything” over the “prison-like” spa complex. Frustrated Ian Knight, told the Independent: “We were proud of what he’s done but now we’re the laughing stock. “They’ve spoilt everything. It was a good thing what he’s done, and now it’s embarrassing.” The C-shaped building has “devalued” other homes and looks like a “prison”, one neighbour said. A third said it was “about time they knocked it down”. Others claimed Hannah and husband Colin had “never spoken to anybody”, which further soured the neighbours’ opinions. A fourth angry local claimed fury was sparked in the village after Hannah spoke of installing a jacuzzi in the spa. The resident said: “They said we will probably let the older people in the village come and use it. “You must be bloody joking. It’s a load of bulls***. “The worst bit is that it’s made a mockery of Captain Tom’s name.” POCKETING FUNDS Hannah pocketed £800,000 from the three books her dad had written, she told Piers Morgan in October. She claimed he wanted his family to keep the profits. She also revealed she was paid £18,000 to attend the Captain Tom awards – but only donating £2,000 of it to his charity. She told the TalkTV’s host: “We have to accept that we made a decision, and it was probably the wrong one.” But £800,000 went to her firm Club Nook Ltd, which was set up just four months before the first tome, Tomorrow Will Be A Good Day: My Autobiography, was published in September 2020. Charity Commission bosses are now probing the foundation. The latest financial details about the charity show a total income of £400,000 and expenditure of £680,000. The charity has halted fundraising during the investigation. A court was also told the Captain Tom Foundation will be shut down when a probe by the Charity Commission is over. Locals have alleged that Hannah Ingram-Moore is responsible for the painting’s removal Credit: PA Captain Tom raised a staggering £38m for NHS Charities Together, which works with a network of more than 230 NHS Charities across the
UK Credit: PA Publisher