If ever proof was needed as to how close greeting cards are to the nation’s heart as the best way to communicate your affection and regard for your fellow man it is there in all its glory in the main assembly hall of Bedford School – where over 90,000 100th birthday cards have already arrived in readiness for the centenary of Captain Tom Moore on April 30.
Having warmed the nation’s soul with his inspiring fundraising (raising more than £28 million to date by completing laps of his garden before his 100th birthday), the general public clearly wanted to do more than just donate to the cause – resulting in the little post office in the Bedfordshire town of Marston Moretaine being bombarded with sacks full of cards, the likes of which it has never seen before.
Bedford School, of which Captain Tom’s grandson Benjie is a pupil, has stepped in re-purposing its main assembly hall to enable the cards to not only be received from the Post Office (the post sacks being transported in two minibuses a day), but also, thanks to the support of 20 volunteers, the cards are opened and put on display.
Bedford School has made a video to show this wonderful greeting card extravaganza, (click below to view).
The news has not gone unnoticed by many of the UK newspapers and TV news channels, keen to cover this feelgood story.
Captain Tom’s 16-year-old grandson (and Bedford School student) Benjie Ingram-Moore, who has been heavily involved in the card opening, appeared on BBC News acknowledging the sentiments written in the cards.
“I think a lot of the cards are so heartfelt and it really shows the effort that people have put in, I think he will really appreciate that,” said Benjie. “I am going to try and take a picture of as many as I can and show them to him, as he will happily sit through and read them all.”
Bedford School headmaster James Hodgson was quoted in the Metro as saying: ‘It’s a wonderful story at a time where frankly everybody needed it. ‘It’s also a real reaffirmation of people’s kindness and I’m a great believer that people are fundamentally kind and this is just the most wonderful way to show it.’
While, as previously covered on PG Buzz, many in the greeting card community have already sent Captain Tom a card (https://www.pgbuzz.net/eight-year-old-reegan-davies-100th-birthday-card-campaign-for-hero-captain-tom/) those who need a reminder of the address, here it is…
Captain Tom Moore, c/o Post Office Limited, 67 Bedford Road, Marston Moretaine, MK43 0LA, Bedfordshire, England.
Top: One of the 65,000 greeting cards that have been sent to Captain Tom Moore in time for his 100th birthday.
