Second World War veteran, 99, who raised £27m for UK health workers, continues his brush with fame

Capt Tom Moore reaches number one in the British music charts, beating Dame Vera Lynn

99-year-old British veteran Captain Tom Moore reacts after completing the 100th length of his back garden in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, Britain, April 16, 2020. EPA

Capt Tom Moore, 99, the Second World War veteran who touched hearts around the world with his attempt to raise money for British healthcare workers, is continuing his unexpected brush with fame.

Capt Moore started out hoping to raise £1,000 for the National Health Service by walking around his garden 100 times.

He far surpassed his target after footage of him breaking the record touched the nation. He has now raised £27 million (Dh123.3m/US$33.5m) and counting.

Capt Moore, born in Keighley in West Yorkshire, will be the guest of honour, appearing by video link, at the opening of a Nightingale hospital in Harrogate, North Yorkshire on Tuesday.

The Nightingale hospitals have been built to help treat coronavirus patients.

Capt Moore has also produced the country's number one song in the Official Big Top 40 chart after releasing a cover of You'll Never Walk Alone  with Michael Ball and the NHS Voices of Care Choir.

He is holding off Dame Vera Lynn, a singer loved for her Second World War songs, who has released a song also to raise money for the NHS.

Lynn's classic We'll Meet Again,  this time with opera star Katherine Jenkins, is at number three.

On Monday, the sweet-natured Capt Moore apologised to her after beating her to number one, revealing that he once saw her perform while serving in the British army.

"I feel rather sorry because she is such a superstar and has been on the top for so long," he told Good Morning Britain.

“She was so good. She came to Burma and I saw her while she was out there.

"When we were in the firing line, Dame Vera Lynn came down to see us all and gave us so much more additional heart.”

The singer wrote a letter to Capt Moore to applaud him for his efforts to raise money for the NHS.

"I was absolutely amazed when I got this letter from Dame Vera, because she's always been such a top person, backing up this country with her White Cliffs of Dover," he said.

"Thank you very, very much Dame Vera. It is so kind of you and thoughtful to send me such a lovely note."

When Capt Moore's daughter, Hannah Ingram-Moore, learnt that her dad was number one, she said: “Thank you for supporting us all and thank you to the British public. We really appreciate it.”

His oldest daughter, Lucy Teixeria, said on Tuesday that it was “very painful” not to be with him when he finished his walk.

Ms Teixeria said she would visit him as soon as lockdown restrictions were lifted.

"I am just lucky in that I have been able to see him on TV," she said.

The former army veteran also has that most modern affirmation of fame – his own Wikipedia entry.

Capt Moore was praised by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, who described him as a "one-man fundraising machine".

William also made an undisclosed donation to the NHS.