Captain Sir Tom Moore’s home where he raised millions for NHS is up for sale

Published

1 year ago

April 26, 2024

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The family home where Captain Sir Tom Moore raised millions for the NHS during the COVID pandemic by walking 100 laps of the garden is up for sale for £2.25m.

The house has been put on the market less than three months after an unauthorised spa pool block in the grounds of the Grade II-listed property was knocked down by order of planning bosses.

The Old Rectory in Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire is described as a “magnificent seven-bedroom property” by estate agents Fine & Country.

A video tour of the house shows a sculpture of the retired Army officer with his walking frame and a photograph of him being knighted by the late Queen in 2020.

Introducing the property, an estate agent says in the tour video: “I’m sure you’ll recognise this iconic and very famous driveway behind me as it was home to the late Captain Sir Tom Moore who walked 100 laps of his garden raising over £37m for NHS charities.”

In August 2021, the fundraising hero’s daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore and her husband were granted permission to build a Captain Tom Foundation Building at the property.

The couple used the Captain Tom Foundation name on the first set of plans.

However, the foundation’s name was not used on a subsequent retrospective application for a larger building containing a spa pool, which was refused by the planning authority in November last year. At the time, the block was partially built.

The organisation, which was founded in June 2020 in honour of Sir Tom, is currently being investigated by the Charity Commission.

The investigation is not connected to the £38.9m, including gift aid, which Sir Tom raised for the NHS.

Sir Tom became a national hero by walking 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday at the height of the country’s first national COVID lockdown in April 2020.

He was personally knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his efforts during a unique open-air ceremony at Windsor Castle that summer.

He died in February 2021 – weeks before his 101st birthday.

The 18th-century home boasts four bathrooms, four reception rooms and is set within 3.5 acres (14,200 square metres) of land, with a standalone coach house.

Anyone interested in buying it will have to prove they can afford it, the listing says.

UK

Epping council demands government ‘immediately’ close asylum hotel – as Home Office works to ‘restore order’

Published

39 mins ago

July 25, 2025

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Epping council demands government 'immediately' close asylum hotel – as Home Office works to 'restore order'

Epping council has unanimously voted to urge the government to shut a hotel housing asylum seekers after a series of protests.

Epping Forest District Council in Essex passed a motion calling for the Bell Hotel to be “immediately and permanently” closed “for the purposes of asylum processing”.

Several demonstrations have been held outside the hotel since 13 July, after an asylum seeker was charged with allegedly attempting to kiss a 14-year-old girl.

Police have arrested 18 people and charged nine in connection with the protests.

Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, from Ethiopia, denied sexually assaulting the 14-year-old girl at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court last week and will stand trial in August.

The Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has also reportedly urged the home secretary to review the use of the hotel for housing asylum seekers.

In a letter to Yvette Cooper, Roger Hirst said the hotel is unsuitable for housing migrants and is “clearly creating community tension”, the Telegraph reported.

Home Office ‘working to restore order’

The Home Office has vowed to “restore order,” threatening on Friday to make asylum seekers homeless if they refuse a change of accommodation.

It said a new “failure to travel” policy is looking to tackle “non-compliance by asylum seekers” and will ensure individuals who are moved from hotels to suitable alternative accommodation must take it.

Those who refuse to move without a valid reason will now risk losing their housing and support, the Home Office said.

Dame Angela Eagle, minister for border security and asylum, said: “We are working to close hotels, restore order, and put fairness and value for money at the heart of our asylum system.

“This government is making those necessary decisions to protect the taxpayer and uphold the integrity of our borders.”

Asked specifically about the Epping Forest District Council vote, the Home Office said: “We’ll continue to work closely with local police and community partners, in Epping and across the country, as we fix this broken system.”

Eight officers injured

Protests outside the Bell Hotel last Thursday began peacefully but escalated into what police described as “scattered incidents of violence,” leaving eight officers injured.

Police are braced for further protests, vowing to act swiftly if unrest spreads.

UK

There were ‘failings’ in care of ex-England cricketer Graham Thorpe in months before he died, coroner says

Published

2 hours ago

July 25, 2025

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There were 'failings' in care of ex-England cricketer Graham Thorpe in months before he died, coroner says

There were “failings” in the care of former England cricketer Graham Thorpe in the months before he died, a coroner has said.

It comes as Coroner Jonathan Stevens recorded a conclusion of suicide at an inquest into his death in August last year.

Thorpe died at a railway station in Surrey.

Mr Stevens read a statement yesterday during the inquest from Mr Thorpe’s GP Joan Munnelly, detailing the cricketer was diagnosed with anxiety and depression in 2018.

Regarded as one of the finest batters of his generation, Thorpe played 100 Tests for England, scoring 16 centuries and featuring 82 times for the ODI side.

He coached England’s batters and had a 17-year career with Surrey.

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK

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UK

Jeff Stewart: Actor who played Reg Hollis in The Bill helps police arrest shoplifter

Published

13 hours ago

July 25, 2025

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Jeff Stewart: Actor who played Reg Hollis in The Bill helps police arrest shoplifter

The actor who played PC Reg Hollis in hit TV series The Bill has been praised by officers after helping them arrest a shoplifter.

Jeff Stewart stepped in when a thief attempted to escape on a bicycle in Southampton on Wednesday.

In a statement, a Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said: “The thief, 29-year-old Mohamed Diallo, fell off the bike during his attempts to flee, before officers pounced to make their arrest.

“To their surprise, local TV legend Jeff Stewart, who played PC Hollis for 24 years in The Bill, came to their aid by sitting on the suspect’s legs while officers put him in cuffs.

“In policing you should always expect the unexpected, but this really wasn’t on The Bill for this week.”

The Bill was broadcast on ITV between 1984 and 2010 and featured the fictional lives of police officers from the Sun Hill police station in east London.

Mr Stewart, who was among the original cast, appeared in more than 1,000 episodes as PC Hollis.

In praising Mr Stewart’s actions, the force said: “Long since retired from Sun Hill station – but he’s still got it.”

Police from the Bargate Neighbourhoods Policing Team were alerted by staff at a Co-op store in Ocean Way to a suspected shoplifter on Wednesday.

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Mohamed Diallo, 29, of Anglesea Road, Southampton, was subsequently charged with five offences of theft relating to coffee, alcohol and food from the Co-op and two other Sainsbury’s stores on three dates in April and July.

He pleaded guilty at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Thursday and was bailed to be sentenced on August 29.