Tribute to Captain Sir Tom Moore installed at Fylde Memorial Arboretum

The arboretum and community woodland, off Moor Park Avenue, hosts many tributes to the Fylde coast’s fallen soldiers, providing a place to reflect and thank them for their service.

Capt Sir Tom Moore, the 100-year-old Army veteran who died on February 2, has now had his name added to the memorial wall, which was built for locals who have lost loved ones during the pandemic.

Paul Binns, 56, chairman of the Fylde ex-service liaison committee and former Royal Engineer, has run the Arboretum since 2012 and said: “One of our volunteers John Jones purchased the plaque for the Dame Vera Lynn wall, and because he also served in Burma, a second plaque will be put into the Burma Memorial Garden.

“It came about due to the national euphoria of what he had achieved. The plaque has been put on the Dame Vera Lynn wall because he served in World War II, but we’re also using the wall to pay tribute to local people who have lost their lives due to Covid.”

Liz Clayton, secretary, treasurer and standard bearer for the Blackpool Burma Star Association, added: “Captain Sir Tom Moore was a most extraordinary man.

“We didn’t know him for very long, we didn’t know of him for very long. But he had an amazing and well-decorated career in the forces.

“He was a hero of the Burma campaign, and he was such a delight.

"He couldn’t do anything wrong as far as I was concerned. He was just so lovely with people, and I was completely amazed by what

he’d done. He was a total gentleman.”

If you would like to pay tribute to a loved one on the Arboretum’s Dame Vera Lynn Wall, you can send a message to its Facebook page.