Captain Ott?

[Theblip]

Captain Tom was undoubtedly a lovely brave old man who raised a record-breaking amount of money for the cash-strapped NHS, and was an inspiration and lifted the nation’s spirits during this pandemic. Last year he got a knighthood, Pride Of Britain Award, a hit record, a Piers Morgan Life Stories, etc. Since he died there’s been a special clap, Parliament stopped to honour him, GMB dedicated a whole show to him, there are calls for a hospital to be named after him, a statue to be erected, etc etc. But I am now going to put my head above the parapet fully expecting to be shot down in flames when I ask: isn’t it all a bit OTT? My arguments would be: He didn’t intend to raise more than £100 - the extraordinary donations were from other people. Plenty of people will have done tougher things to fundraise for the NHS, though may be not at such a grand age. Yes he fought for our country - so did countless others. He was adorable with an endearing turn of phrase, but so are many. The likes of Sean Connery, Des O’Connor, Bobby Ball and Maradonna who also died recently had far greater impacts on my life, yet their deaths didn’t get anything like this reaction. Okay, I’ve put my tin hat on. Fire away!

[DTCwordfan]

simply he became an icon around which the nation could bond against this vicious invader that we have experienced. Your celebs, worthy careers that they may have had or not, did not attain this.

[murraymints]

he inspired and motivated people to think of others and to carry on regardless...instilled a national pride and reinforced the need to be aware.... also boosted our appreciation of the NHS... a far superior legacy to leave than that of an actor/sportsperson/singer etc

[dannyk13]

The Blip //didn’t intend to raise more than £100 //
But he did raise more than that, a lot more. What a mealy mouthed post.

[davebro]

As long as they are doing no harm let people do what they want. You don't have to endorse it or join in.

Sir Tom became a rallying point & did what he did purely for charity. Those others you mention did what they did (initially at least) to earn money for themselves.

[johnk]

We desperately need good news and Tom brought us that. The reaction from the media to his passing may have beeen ott but so what.

[Peter Pedant]

canon Jarrel windsor smithson agrees with you
he is in fact the chost of white imperialism
you are entitled to your opinion

debunking figures of honour or importance is an English pass-time( Queen Victoria was really a lesbian and her ten children were someone else's) - ( Baden Powell ( Baking Powder) didnt seem to mind when lads got shot in Mafeking: they hadnt ducked ) - I do it myself - guilty I am - AB is full of zeros, delta and epsilon semi morons ( hey shades of Bave New World there!) and someone has made the mistake of teaching them all to type.

[LadyCG]

The difference between Captain Tom and Diego Maradonna is that the the latter did it for the glory and the former did what he did out of the goodness of his heart. It's hardly fair to lump them in the same category. Nor is it fair to compare a war veteran who raised an eye-watering amount of money for his Country's National Health Service during the greatest health crisis in living memory to Sean Connery, the great Tax Avoider.

Captain Tom was in a league of his own.

[Peter Pedant]

He raised more money than I have
coupled with he might well have said less

[Peter Pedant]

Diego Maradonna is that cocaine sniffing hand-ball player innit?
Obviously has a lot in common wiv Capn Tom
( well they are bofe dead for a start)

[Theland]

Captain Sir Tom was rightly reported in the media, but then to a certain extent was exploited by the media, who laid it on thick, organising celebrity visits etc.
Did he want or need a visit from Beckham?
Did the celebs jump on the bandwagon?
An extraordinary gentleman.
A shame he must have been considered by some as a publicity opportunity.

[Old_Geezer]

It is all OTT but it's become clear that many of the public are into that. One lives and learns, as they say.

[emmie]

he intended to raise a 1000 pounds i believe and ended up with almost by the time its tallied 40 million. I find it hard to criticise anyone like Sir Tom who seemed a million miles away from many self centered celebs, his passing was a really sad day. May his foundation live on - and that people still donate... RIP old chap

[Theblip]

At no point am I criticising Captain Tom. I am merely questioning the response to him. Nor do I compare him to Maradonna

[dannyk13]

What a fitting tribute ,if indeed, they name a hospital after him

[dannyk13]

Blip, if it is not a criticism why do you need to wear a tin hat?

[douglas9401]

A Vera Lynn for our times.

[Tilly2]

I like this.

https://www.bedfordshirelive.co.uk/news/bedfordshire-news/artist-creates-amazing-life-size-4964689?fbclid=IwAR0AeB9XByWoJZdCJ0ODy3xCevDDW1XQ4pG4t8QPSZ6m6ia_UAy5P6eFdKo+10+hrs+ago

[Prudie]

Blip needs to wear a tin hat because people like you Danny have called his post mealy mouthed. The Blip I do agree with you although it's not Capt Tom's fault. It was the media who whipped it up to the level it reached. I was aware of him and his achievements during 2020 but he certainly didn't carry me through it. A wonderful man yes but so are so many we don't hear about.

[Sqad]

the lip

I agree with your post completely, but OTT is a characteristic of this present generation.
He was a gentleman, he was iconic of a past generation, but his contribution was to walk the length of his garden at the age of 90 with a Zimmer frame, hardly the stuff of statues and state funerals.
What followed was immense, snowball reaction by the media, sweeping Sir Tom in an uncontrolled storm of exaggerated media publicity.
He was typical of a generation which has been forgotten to a large extent.
Grossly OTT ,I agree entirely.

[Paigntonian]

He was, among other things, symbolic, an emotional rallying point, an example to others and a charming man. For those reasons alone he deserves our respect. Would love to see him waving his walking stick on the empty plinth in Trafalgar Square.