If one man represents the best of Britain during this global pandemic it is Captain Tom Moore who stole the nation’s heart by walking 100 laps around his garden before his 100th birthday to raise money for the NHS, achieving a total of £32m by the time he had finished.
Captain Tom pledged to complete the 2.5km (1.6 miles), the 100-lap garden challenge at his home in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire by his 100th birthday on 30 April. He was knighted for his efforts.
Now an ITV documentary has been filmed about Sir Tom’s love of motorcycles. It was produced by North One and was broadcast on ITV 1, yesterday August 13th.
For the film shoot, Mark Bryan of H&H Classics provided a 1920’s Royal Enfield Model 200, supplied by Hitchcocks Motorcycles in Solihull. It was one of the first bikes that Sir Tom restored after discovering it as a barn-find, and which he rode around in his garden as a very young man.
Mark comments: “It was an absolute honour to be able to help out, even in such a small way. Sir Tom’s infectious enthusiasm and knowledge of motorcycling is quite amazing”
Two other motorbikes featured in the documentary, an Excelsior Manxman and a Scott two speed. Both are bikes Sir Tom remembers fondly from his youth.
He was described as being: “a beacon of light through the fog of coronavirus”, and for his shining example, Captain Tom Moore was awarded a knighthood.