*Clapathon for Sir Tom*

Sorry that should be a BLM supporting cleric.

A black clergyman referred to the clapping for Sir Tom as “white nationalism” on Twitter which he has subsequently withdrawn. This is not what Sir Tom was about. We are all in this pandemic together. What has happened to humanity?

Thé Thanks and appreciation with all the clapping last year didn’t last very long as, after the christmas break, the NHS are once again on their knees with exhaustion!

The money generated from the acts and kindness of Captain Tom, a few personal minutes to thank and acknowledge this lovely man is sufficient for me. I don’t want to share clapping about it.

GillT57 that's how I feel.

I read an article on where the money went. It was to make life nicer for NHS staff which you wouldn’t normally expect an employer to provide, such as hot meals to take home, coffee and snacks in the rest room etc.

I see Boris is talking about naming one of the new hospitals after Sir Tom.

Captain Tom was obviously a fine man and a gentleman but I think we should leave the mourning to his family and friends. The calls for a state funeral are frankly rather over the top. Captain Tom caught the public affection at the right time and subsequently many people donated but I find the veneration rather excessive. Over 111000 have died and they were all loved by their family as much as Captain Tom is by his.

It's a good many years since we attended a wedding where the congregation clapped at the end of the ceremony - the first time I have experienced this, but not the last. OK for such a joyful occasion, but not for a funeral or hearse passing by.

I agree with the non-clappers where has the practice of showing respect with a bowed head and a minutes silence gone. Has everything got to be a show or a circus we did not use to be a hysterical showy nation we knew how to show dignity.
The same for clapping at funerals, we were taught in my county to close the curtains until after a funeral. Maybe a bit dated now but let's keep our British dignity.
So many have shown true spirit and tenacity during this pandemic. maybe a national Peace park or memorial to all who have worked or died in all fields.
I did go out at 6 not one clap in my village I would have joined in to show unity but not really agreed with it.

That is lovely picture Esspee tears in my eyes.

Whilst admiring Captain Tom we didn't feel it at all necessary to clap at the prescribed 6pm. These public gestures do feel a bit like virtue signalling to us.

My DH made me laugh every time TV showed clapping for someone recently deceased, at football matches in the days when spectators were allowed in.
He used to say " Oh the manager's budgie has died then".

Might sound a bit heartless but it always amused me.

I think a statue was also mentioned
Someone will tear it down in years to come because a woke person will discover he wasn’t perfect.
Just a man like many others who put their lives on the line for their country and continued to live a good and compassionate life.
Luckily we have quite a few of those. We have just lost one.

Heigh!! What about an idea of properly and fully funding the NHS, giving all nurses and NHS Support workers a proper pay increase, and stopping the need for dependency on charity for the NHS??? Perhaps an equal amount given to the NHS as to that given out to governement mates in the many unchallenged and unworkable contracts over the past year

Seems so MissA! It’ll never happen, just a daft idea.

A state funeral?
Has the UK gone mad?

Was driving through my village at 6pm.2 people out clapping that’s all.

Sir Tom did a wonderful thing but so did others. I'm sad for him and his lovely family. But I'm sad for others too.
I think his family would be embarrassed at the petition for a state funeral.

I was very sad to hear of Captain Tom's death - more sad than I would have thought I would be about someone I did not know personally.

However, I think people should remember him in their own way and not be almost instructed as to how they should demonstrate their sadness.

I went out on our balcony and clapped. Himself felt no one else would be out .... he was right. That said, it felt good in my heart to say ‘thank you Captain Tom’.

I don’t mind feeling foolish. x

I had previously said to my husband we should have a minutes silence for all those who lost their lives in this pandemic.

I went out and clapped as did a few neighbours. I think it is a personal thing and it is fine to disagree - don't do it then but there is no need to be rude about it.

I agree Lucca. He caught the imagination of people far and wide and did raise a huge sum for NHS charities. Respect to him for that but a state funeral is a step too far. Besides which Covid19 restrictions on funerals would totally prohibit any such grand ceremony.

I just had a change,org e mail petitioning for a state funeral for
him.
Sorry but I find that slightly ridiculous.
How about a state funeral for all the medics who died of coronavirus fighting to save lives day in day out.

We clapped tonight for Major Tom in our cul de sac, but no one else did. I don’t feel that comfortable with the clapping and certainly don’t like it when a coffin goes past in a hearse after a funeral. Seems an odd thing to do. I think we clapped tonight because we thought our neighbours would, but we were the only ones in the event. I didn’t think the other neighbours - lovely people as most of them are - knew anything about it. We all clapped on a Thursday evening for the NHS in the late spring/summer, but I was relieved when it ended. It felt a little bit meaningless and repetitive in the end. I have every respect for the NHS and Captain Tom, but I thought clapping a bit redundant. RIP Captain Tom. What an absolute trooper. Also, he fought in the Burma Campaign in WWII as my own father did. And to raise £33M for NHS charities - brilliant!

Mapleleaf

I tend to agree. I feel a bit uncomfortable with all this clapping, especially the trend for it at funerals or when the hearse goes by, as Anniebach says.

I think a dignified silence is better and I like grannypipers idea of lighting a candle, too.

The Thursday night clapping during the first lockdown was a good idea, but I think we’ve moved on from that now - a special time of remembrance once this is all over, where we can observe a minutes silence, rather like we do for armistice day, would be more appropriate. (I think I’ve seen on the news that that is going to happen or at least is being considered).

I agree completely.?

The first time I saw people clapping a hearse was at Princess Diana’s funeral. I thought it odd, but it seemed to be spontaneous and genuine. I wouldn’t do it myself.