A plaque paying tribute to Captain Sir Tom Moore’s military service and NHS fundraising has been installed on the Dame Vera Lynn Memorial Wall at the Fylde Memorial Arboretum in Bispham.

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.

John Jones, a volunteer at the Fylde Memorial Arboretum, installed a plaque for Capt Sir Tom Moore to pay tribute to his military service and NHS fundraising. Picture: Daniel Martino/JPI Media

placeholder image — John Jones, a volunteer at the Fylde Memorial Arboretum, installed a plaque for Capt Sir Tom Moore to pay tribute to his military service and NHS fundraising. Picture: Daniel Martino/JPI Media

“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.