Captain Tom's daughter admits 'regret' over her luxury spa as decision looms
The family of Captain Sir Tom Moore has spoken of their "regret" over a luxury spa and pool complex built at their £1.2million home.
The late 100-year-old's daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore, her husband Colin Ingram and their children Benji and Georgia are being grilled by TalkTV's Piers Morgan in a interview broadcast this evening. Captain Tom became a national hero when he raised millions for the NHS during lockdown by walking laps of his garden. However, since his death in February 2021, the family have been plagued by controversy and the financial activities of the Captain Tom Foundation charity have come under scrutiny, with the Charity Commission announcing a review in February 2022.
Planning chiefs at Central Bedfordshire Council ordered that an unauthorised spa pool block at Hannah's home should be demolished, and the foundation stopped taking money from donors. During the family's interview with Piers, the TalkTV host is shown the building that sparked outrage after it was revealed they had used the Captain Tom Foundation’s name in the planning application.
Hannah Ingram-Moore is being grilled by TalkTV's Piers Morgan in a interview being broadcast this evening (Piers Morgan Uncensored)In a clip released on Wednesday, ahead of Thursday's interview, the family open up on the death threats they have received. Hannah reveals: “There is a forum… they were all discussing how they were going to come and kill us all," while her husband added: “We should have done it in a different way.”
Speaking about the spa, Piers asks: "Why are you reluctant to get rid of it?", adding: "I've asked this a few times now... I'll give you one last chance." Grilling the family on their financial affairs, Piers questions: “Neither of you have ever made any money directly from the Foundation for personal gain?” To which Colin replies: "Not a penny."
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According to The Sun, Hannah said: "We have to accept that we made a decision, and it was probably the wrong one." Her husband Colin then added: "Without any doubt, and we’ve suffered." The family are appealing the demolishment of the spa, and maintain that they paid for it themselves.
Hannah also reportedly admitted her family kept profits from three books he had written. She told Piers that her campaigner father wanted his family to keep the money from the three books in Club Nook Ltd - a firm separate to the Captain Tom Foundation charity. The profits were said to be £800,000.
Captain Tom Moore during a photocall to mark the launch of his memoir (Getty Images)She reportedly said: "These were my father's books, and it was honestly such a joy for him to write them, but they were his books. He had an agent and they worked on that deal, and his wishes were that that money would sit in Club Nook, and in the end..."
Mr Morgan asked "for you to keep?" and she replied "yes", the paper states. The family told TalkTV there was no suggestion that anyone buying the books thought they were donating to charity. Sir Tom had his knighthood conferred on him by the late Queen in July 2020 in recognition of his fundraising achievements.
Hannah also told TalkTV she was paid £18,000 for attending the Virgin Media O2 Captain Tom Foundation Connector Awards in 2021 - when already being paid as chief executive of the body. The money was paid to her family firm, Maytrix Group, and she banked £16,000, donating £2,000 to the Captain Tom Foundation, according to reports.
A view of the home of Ms Ingram-Moore (PA)The Charity Commission launched an inquiry into the foundation in June last year, after identifying concerns about the charity's management and independence from Sir Tom's family. It had already opened a case into the charity shortly after the 100-year-old died in 2021, and began reviewing the set-up of the organisation.
The watchdog's intervention into the foundation had a "massive adverse impact" on fundraising, the charity's accounts published last month stated. The foundation's accounts show that for the nine months from August 2021 to April 2022, Ms Ingram-Moore, received a gross salary of £63,750 in her role as interim chief executive officer. The Charity Commission had consented to an annual salary of £85,000. She also received £7,602 in expense payments for travel and administration between June 2021 and November 2022.
A Charity Commission spokesperson said: "Our inquiry into the Captain Tom Foundation remains ongoing. Its scope includes examining mismanagement or misconduct which may have led to any financial losses to the charity and whether the trustees have adequately managed conflicts of interest, including with private companies connected to the Ingram-Moore family."
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