The remarkable fundraising of Captain Tom Moore has captured the world’s imagination and brought special joy to a Tayside family whose late husband and father served with the inspirational 99-year-old.
Bob Ness, originally from Dundee, is one of the men sitting on a tank alongside the veteran officer in a photograph beamed around the globe to highlight the Bedfordshire veteran’s walking challenge which has now generated a staggering £18 million-plus for the NHS.
The black and white shot of several men on an armoured vehicle flashed up on a TV screen this week and the connection to the nonagerian fundraiser has “thrilled” Bob’s 91-year-old widow, Ethel, and his two daughters.
Mr Ness’s younger daughter, Carol May, from Kenmore said: “My sister, Elaine saw the photo on one of the news bulletins and thought the man sitting on the front right of the tank looked like dad.
“She phoned me and I hadn’t seen it, but we managed to get a copy of it and sent it over to my mum at Dalweem care home in Aberfeldy and she immediately said it was him.
“She is so thrilled, and it is amazing that we have this connection to such a special man. The staff at the home have been absolutely spectacular, they blew the picture up and it now has pride of place – it’s been a real talking point,” said Carol.
“My dad served for quite a bit in the Army and although we don’t know the exact details of this picture we reckon this would have been taken when he was 20 or 21 and was with Captain Moore and the 50th Indian Tank Brigade.”
She added: “Elaine is now in Blairgowrie, but we’re a Dundee family. It was a bit of a shock to find out dad was sitting with this wonderful man who has now raised so much for the NHS – but a lovely shock. I was a staff nurse so it means so much to see what Captain Moore has done.”
Captain Moore, originally from Keighley in Yorkshire, has become a fundraising sensation through his effort to complete 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday.
“It has been an absolute thrill for mum to find out about this picture. I sat down and wrote a letter to Captain Tom to thank him so much for what he has done and let him know about the picture with dad in it,” added Carol.
“For us as a family to have this little special connection to him at a time like this is just wonderful.”
