National hero Captain Tom in Harrogate for army college visit

Captain Sir Tom Moore visited the Army Foundation College in Harrogate in North Yorkshire yesterday as part of his new role as honorary colonel of the northern military training establishment.
Captain Sir Tom Moore visiting the Army Foundation College in Harrogate.Captain Sir Tom Moore visiting the Army Foundation College in Harrogate.
Captain Sir Tom Moore visiting the Army Foundation College in Harrogate.

The World War II veteran, who raised a phenomenal £32 million for the National Health Service’s charitable wing, NHS Charities Trust, upon completing 100 laps around his garden at his home in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, during the lockdown period, has become a household name and national treasure.

The Keighley-born hero was shown around the college on Sunday, on Penny Pot Lane and given the opportunity to meet the Junior Soldiers currently training.

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Captain Sir Tom raised almost £33 million for the NHS by walking 100 laps of his garden in the village of Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire before he turned 100 in April.

He was appointed honorary colonel for the Army Foundation College to mark his milestone birthday.

The college in Penny Pot Lane, Harrogate, runs two types of course – a 42-week long course and a shorter 22-week course both of which train junior soldiers destined for a wide variety of army careers.

The junior soldiers on the longer 42-week course will join either the Infantry, Royal Artillery, Royal Armoured Corps or Royal Logistic Corps.

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Once junior soldiers complete the shorter 22-week course designed for other cap badges they will head for the longer more specialist phase of their training which could be anything from being a vehicle mechanic with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers to becoming a communications systems operator with the Royal Signals.

Both the courses provide a unique combination of military basic training and vocational training to the junior soldiers.

Junior soldiers also work on their leadership and team skills as part of the college’s personal and team development package.

They undertake adventurous training activities, as well as physical and mental challenges, culminating in a 30-hour challenge patrol across the Yorkshire Dales.

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The students are also given the opportunity to sample a wide variety of sports promoting fitness and agility.

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