A crane has lifted the spa pool out of an unauthorised building that is being demolished at the home of Captain Sir Tom Moore‘s daughter.
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The tub was hooked up to chains and hoisted up through the open roof of the block, which was taken off by workmen earlier in the week.
Its removal by a large yellow crane came three years after the death of Sir Tom on February 2, 2021.
Scaffolders arrived at the property in Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire on Tuesday, with a section of the roof removed the following day and the crane removing the spa pool on Friday afternoon.
Hannah Ingram-Moore and her husband, Colin, lost an appeal against an order to remove the Captain Tom Foundation Building in the grounds of their property after a hearing in October.
DEADLINE FOR DEMOLISION
Inspector Diane Fleming ruled in November that the spa block must be demolished within three months, by February 7, and Central Bedfordshire Council said it would be “reviewing the onsite position” the following day, on February 8.
Planning permission had been granted for an L-shaped building in the grounds of the family home – but the planning authority refused a subsequent retrospective application in 2022 for a larger C-shaped building containing a spa pool.
The council issued an enforcement notice in July 2023 requiring the demolition of the “unauthorised building” and the Planning Inspectorate dismissed an appeal against this.
During a hearing in October, chartered surveyor James Paynter, for the appellants, said the spa pool had “the opportunity to offer rehabilitation sessions for elderly people in the area”.
But Ms Fleming’s written decision concluded the “scale and massing” of the building had resulted in harm to the grade II-listed Old Rectory – the family’s home.
INVESTIGATION
The foundation is the subject of an investigation by the Charity Commission amid concerns about its management and independence from Sir Tom’s family.
FROM NHS HERO TO SPA CARNAGE
How the Captain Tom Moore story unfolded:
- April 2020 – Cap Tom Moore walks laps of garden for NHS Charities Together, raises over £39 million by his 100th birthday on April 30
- June 2020 – Captain Tom Foundation established by daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore
- February 2021 – Captain Tom dies after contracting Covid-19
- 2021 – Council give permission to build garden office for foundation
- June 2022 – Charity commission investigates questions over foundation finances
- July 2023 – Office turns out to be spa complex and charity stops receiving donations
- November 2023 – Family appeal previous demolition order which council throw out
- February 7, 2024 – Spa complex due to be demolished
The charity watchdog opened a case into the foundation shortly after the 100-year-old died in 2021, and launched its inquiry in June 2022.
Scott Stemp, representing Ms Ingram-Moore and her husband, said at the appeal hearing that the foundation “is to be closed down following an investigation by the Charity Commission”.
NHS HERO
Sir Tom raised £38.9million for the NHS, including gift aid, by walking 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday, at the height of the first national Covid-19 lockdown in April 2020.
He was knighted by the late Queen during a unique open-air ceremony at Windsor Castle in the summer of that year.
Workers were last week pictured removing a BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award and Guinness Book of Records certificate from the building.
Locals told of the family’s “embarrassment” on Wednesday while celebrating its imminent destruction.
Hannah admitted to Piers Morgan that she pocketed £800,000 from the three books her dad had written – claiming he wanted his family to keep the profits.
She told the TalkTV’s host: “We have to accept that we made a decision, and it was probably the wrong one.”
Other controversies included her £18,000 payment to attend the Captain Tom awards – and only donating £2,000 of it to his charity.
Neighbours had previously accused Hannah of “playing on her father’s name”.
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