Captain Tom Moore’s lockdown fundraising is most beautiful moment of the past century – beating David Attenborough meeting gorillas, the Lionesses winning the Euros… and even the MOON landing, according to poll
- Sir Captain Tom Moore’s fundraising efforts named most beautiful moment
- Read more: From 18 to 106, the local heroes who inspired us are honoured
There have been many meaningful moments over the last decade, let alone the last century, but some pull on the heartstrings more than others.
But now the most beautiful moment of the century has been revealed – and it’s a good one.
The fundraising legend Sir Captain Tom raised all of our spirits with his exploits during the Covid lockdown and he also raised more than £38million for the NHs.
His generosity and dedication pitted many other fantastic moments to the top spot, including broadcasting giant Sir David Attenborough meeting Rwandan gorillas and Tom Hardy reading a bedtime story on CBeebies.
Here’s the full list of the top ten most beautiful moments of the past century, as voted for by the British public:
Sir Captain Tom’s Fundraising Efforts
Captain Tom’s heroic lockdown fundraising success stole the nation’s hearts in 2020, when, at the grand age of 99, he set out to make money for the NHS.
His aim was to complete 100 25-metre lengths of his garden before his 100th birthday.
Sir Captain Tom Moore was recognised at the Pride of Britain Award before he died on February 2, 2022, aged 100
More than 1.5million people donated as he walked and as he finished his goal, singer Michael Ball serenaded him with You’ll Never Walk Alone on BBC Breakfast.
He raised more than £38million for the NHS. He also became the oldest person to hit number one on the Official UK Singles Chart, when Ball’s performance was released as a single with the NHS Voices of Care Choir.
Sir Captain Tom Moore was recognised at the Pride of Britain Award before he died on February 2, 2022, aged 100.
The HNS Twitter account paid tribute to him, tweeting: ‘Thanks for everything, Sir Tom,’ and both the Queen and the then Prime Minister Boris Johnson offered their condolences to his family.
David Attenborough Meets Rwandan Gorillas
Sir David Attenborough’s experience with gorillas in the Virunga Mountains of Rwanda ranked at second on the list.
The broadcaster has described the moment as ‘one of the most memorable experiences of my life’.
Sir David Attenborough’s experience with gorillas in the Virunga Mountains of Rwanda was one of ‘the most memorable’ of his life
Gorilla Poppy (right) tried to remove the broadcaster’s shoes as he lay on the ground surrounded by the animals
When he visited the gorillas, they were on the brink of extinction. Now, with the help of experts, they number more than 1,000.
Meeting the gorillas in 1979, including a mischievous youngster called Poppy, Sir David said there was more ‘meaning and mutual understanding exchanging a glance with a gorilla than with any other animal I know’.
Poppy tried to remove the broadcaster’s shoes as he lay on the ground surrounded by the gorillas. Sir David said the meeting was ‘tinged with sadness’ as he thought he might have been seeing some of the last of their kind.
Del and Rodney Finally Become Millionaires
In 1996, Del Boy and Rodney, the much-loved scallywags at the heart of the TV series Only Fools And Horses, sell an antique watch that they had found for £6million.
Del Boy and Rodney became millionaires in the final episode of Only Fools And Horses after selling an antique watch they found for £6million
Achieving their dreams of being filthy rich in the Christmas special that proved to be the final episode of the long-running sitcom, it comes in at third on the list of most beautiful moments of the past century.
The Lionesses Win The Euros
England’s Lionesses were the pride of the nation after Chloe Kelly fired them into the history books after beating Germany at the Euros 2022 final 2-1.
England’s Lionesses were the pride of the nation after Chloe Kelly fired them into the history books after beating Germany at the Euros 2022 final (file image)
The late Queen Elizabeth II led the praise, telling them in a statement ‘You have all set an example that will be an inspiration for girls and women today, and for future generations’.
The result sent the Lionesses into raptures, with the victorious women storming into Sarina Wiegman’s post-match press conference singing the Baddiel, Skinner and The Lightning Seeds anthem Three Lions.
Overjoyed spectators jumped into the fountains in Trafalgar Square to celebrate what was seen by many as a watershed moment for women’s football in the UK.
The Opening Ceremony At The 2012 London Olympics
From James Bond meeting Queen Elizabeth II, to Rowan Atkinson as Mister Bean and of course, a cameo from the Spice Girls, the opening ceremony at the 2012 London Olympics really had it all.
The opening ceremony featured a cameo from the late Queen Elizabeth II and James Bond, on Her Majesty’s Service
The four-hour long marathon of Britishness had a worldwide audience of more than 900million
The four-hour long marathon of Britishness had a worldwide audience of more than 900million and cost more than £65million.
It featured tributes to Britain’s industrial past as well as a Red Arrows flyover.
And it was just the start of an excellent home games for Team GB, with Super Saturday seeing three gold medals won in just 44 minutes, with Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis-Hill and Greg Rutherford becoming national heroes.
Neil Armstrong Is The First Man On The Moon
‘One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,’ said Neil Armstrong as he landed on the surface of the moon in 1969 – in the sixth most beautiful moment of the last century, according to a poll by Interflora.
Astronaut Buzz Aldrin Jr., the second man on the moon, poses for a photograph beside the U.S. flag on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission
A footprint made by the first man on the moon, clearly visible. Apollo 11 was the fifth manned Apollo mission, and was the first to land on the Moon
The American astronaut, alongside colleague Buzz Aldrin, planted Betsy Ross’s Stars and Stripes on the moon in footage that was beamed back to Earth.
The astronauts – with fellow space-traveller Michael Collins – achieved the incredible feat with less computing power than most modern calculators.
America had been racing the USSR to land a man on the moon from the moment Sputnik had been launched more than a decade earlier.
Since the first moon landings, ten more humans have landed on the surface and the International Space Station has been launched.
And the rest of the list:
7. Tom Hardy reads a bedtime story on CBeebies (2021)
8. The creation of the first Penguin paperback book (1935)
9. The end of tea rationing (1952)
10. Eurovision comes to Liverpool (2023)
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