Captain Tom Moore’s NHS appeal hits £30 million on his 100th birthday

But his determination captured the public imagination and at around 9.20 on Thursday, an hour after the RAF staged a flypast in his honour, he reached £30 million raised for NHS charities.

“Thank you everyone, you are all magnificent,” he wrote on Twitter after reaching the total.

Earlier he had thanked the public for their “very overwhelming” generosity, telling supporters in a handwritten note that the past few weeks had put a spring in his step.

He has received thousands of cards from well wishers and got a birthday message from the Prime Minister on Thursday.

Capt Tom said: “Reaching 100 is quite something. Reaching 100 with such interest in me and huge generosity from the public is very overwhelming.

“People keep saying what I have done is remarkable, however it’s actually what you have done for me which is remarkable.

“I felt a little frustrated and disappointed after I broke my hip and it knocked my confidence.

“However, the past three weeks have put a spring back in my step. I have renewed purpose and have thoroughly enjoyed every second of this exciting adventure, but I can’t keep walking forever.”

A policeman passes a Happy Birthday banner to mark the 100th birthday of Second World War veteran Captain Tom Moore close to his home in Marston Moretaine, near Bedford (Joe Giddens/PA)

Capt Tom said the donations page will close on Thursday evening, but encouraged people to continue to donate directly to NHS charities.

He finished his message by saying: “My legs may be tired, but my mind is racing and I’m hoping to be back very soon with other ways in which I can help people, help others.

“Please always remember, ‘Tomorrow Will Be A Good Day’.”

A Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast of a Spitfire and a Hurricane was organised by the RAF to mark his birthday and he was also appointed as an honorary colonel of the Army Foundation College on his special day.

Chief of the General Staff General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith made the appointment, which was approved by the Queen.

Speaking about the flypast, Capt Tom said: “I’m one of the few people here who’ve seen Hurricanes and Spitfires flying past in anger.

“Fortunately today they’re all flying peacefully.”

A Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast of a Spitfire and a Hurricane passed over Capt Moore’s Bedfordshire home on Thursday (Joe Giddens/PA)

He told BBC Breakfast it was “really something special” to be able to say “honorary colonel”.

Capt Tom, who is a cricket fan, has also been made an honorary member of the England cricket team.

He said it was “very difficult to put into words” what he is experiencing.

He was spending his special day at home with his daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore and her family, who he has been self-isolating with, and will be joined by his other daughter Lucy and her family digitally.

Capt Tom has been overwhelmed with birthday messages, including more than 140,000 cards which are being opened at a special sorting office set up at his grandson’s school.

In his birthday message to Capt Moore, Boris Johnson said: “Captain Tom, I know I speak for the whole country when I say ‘We wish you a very happy 100th birthday’.

“Your heroic efforts have lifted the spirits of the entire nation. You’ve created a channel to enable millions to say a heartfelt thank you to the remarkable men and women in our NHS who are doing the most astounding job.

“There is a tradition going back some years now where the Prime Minister takes a moment each day to thank someone for their service to others.

“By recognising them as a point of light. Captain Tom, that is exactly what you are – a point of light in all our lives.”

Capt Moore thanked the Prime Minister for his “really outstanding” message.

He was also awarded the Freedom of the City of London on Thursday in recognition of his charity work.

Royal Mail has painted a postbox in Capt Moore’s village NHS blue in tribute to his fundraising efforts.

The postbox, in Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire, has been decorated with a golden balloon.

Birthday cards for Captain Tom Moore at Bedford School (Joe Giddens/PA)

Bill Chandi, who has been Marston Moretaine’s postmaster for 32 years, said: “This has been an incredible time – far, far busier than even Christmas, but I am very happy to help as Captain Tom is a remarkable man, a real role model.”