April 7th 2024.
Two life-sized statues of Captain Tom Moore, the late veteran who raised millions of pounds for the NHS during the Covid-19 pandemic, have recently been put up for auction on eBay. One of them, an original bronze version, has an asking price of £24,000, while the other, a resin copy, has a starting price of just 99p.
The three statues, known as the Walk of Hope, were created as a tribute to Captain Tom and his incredible fundraising efforts. Owner Tony Clark, who designed the statue with his friend Keith Sharratt, commissioned artists in Indonesia to make the three versions. After one of the copies was sold for £3,300 online, Tony decided to list the original bronze statue and another resin copy on eBay.
In the eBay listing for the bronze statue, Tony explains that he has received numerous messages from people who are curious about the statue's fate. He wanted to give a private buyer the opportunity to purchase it or to crowdfund and donate it for public display. The listing also mentions that the Captain Tom Foundation Charity, which was founded by the late hero's family, has closed down and they have no involvement in the sale.
Tony had originally hoped to display the bronze statue in Captain Tom's home county of Yorkshire, but unfortunately, his efforts to find a suitable public space were unsuccessful. This left him with no choice but to try and recoup the thousands of pounds he had spent creating and storing the statues.
In an interview, Tony expressed his pride in Captain Tom and the statue they had made, but also his sadness at seeing it sit in storage and gather dust. The first resin statue was initially listed for £29,000, but after several price cuts, it eventually sold for £3,300. Half of the auction proceeds were donated to The Veterans Charity, according to Clark.
Tony happily announced on a Facebook group dedicated to the statues that the first full-size Captain Tom statue had found a new home at an accountant's office in Lydney, Gloucestershire. He invited anyone who lived close or was passing by to visit the statue, which now stands proudly in front of the office building.
After Captain Tom's passing in February 2021, his family continued his fundraising work through the Captain Tom Foundation. However, the charity is currently under investigation by the Charity Commission for possible conflicts of interest, mismanagement, and whether the trustees fulfilled their legal duties and responsibilities. Additionally, there has been a saga involving Captain Tom's daughter and a planning application for a spa pool block at their home. The family recently lost their appeal against a council order to remove the building and had to demolish it.
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