We live next to Captain Tom's daughter - furore over spa has tarnished hero's name... and now WE'RE the laughing stock

DISGUSTED neighbors who live near Captain Tom’s disgraced daughter and an “unauthorised” spa complex say they have become “a laughing stock”.

Hannah Ingram-Moore’s £200,000 luxury Bedfordshire estate in Marston Moretaine will be demolished on February 7, with workmen already on site.

Hannah Ingram-Moore was ordered to demolish the spa Credit: Tim Stewart

The spa was built in the name of Captain Tom in the family villa

Captain Tom’s daughter watched as the memorabilia was taken from the swimming pool Credit: Jeremy Selwyn

Workers were at the construction site yesterday putting up blue tarpsCredit: Bav Media

Now, residents of the once sleepy village say Captain Tom’s legacy has been “tarnished” after he raised almost £40million for the NHS during the Covid pandemic.

The Second World War veteran, who was knighted for his achievements, won the hearts of the nation as he walked 10 laps of his garden every day, surpassing his original £1,000 target.

Frustrated local Ian Knight told the Independent he felt “embarrassed” when people asked about the controversial spa.

“We were proud of what he did, but now we are the object of ridicule,” said a disappointed resident.

“They spoiled everything. It was good what he did, but now it’s embarrassing.”

Another neighbor in the road hit out at the C-shaped building, claiming it “devalued” other homes and made it look like a “prison”.

Meanwhile, someone else agreed that “it was time to take it down.”

They also claimed that Hannah and husband Colin “never spoke to anyone”, further spoiling the opinion of neighbours.

It will be demolished on February 7 Credit: Bav Media

Picture boxes are seen being brought out Credit: Splash

The furniture was also taken away from the construction site. Credits: Bav Media

Removal of reminders of achievements of Captain Tom Merits: Splash

“It [the building] it was built without a permit, it’s ugly, without any features, it doesn’t fit well inside a listed building [The Old Rectory] and it doesn’t sit well with our houses or those around us,” the resident added.

A fourth angry villager claimed that anger erupted in the village after Hannah spoke about installing a jacuzzi at the spa.

“They said we would probably let the older people in the village come and use it,” explained the local.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. That’s a bunch of bulls***.

“The worst part is that Captain Tom’s name is mocked.”

Hannah previously spoke about the ordeal with TalkTV’s Piers Morgan and admitted pocketing money from the veteran NHS fundraiser worth £39m in the high-profile interview.

She said: “We have to accept that we made a decision, and it was probably the wrong one.”

An emotional Hannah revealed they kept £800,000 from three books her father wrote – claiming he wanted them to keep the profits.

Other controversies include her £18,000 payout to attend the Captain Tom Awards – and the mere £2,000 she donated to his charity.

A veteran’s daughter has been paid a hefty sum to attend the 2021 Virgin Media O2 Captain Tom Foundation Connector Awards.

PREPARATION FOR DEMOLITION

It comes at a time when preparations for the demolition of the hated building are underway ahead of D-Day.

Boxes of Captain Tom’s plaques, including the BBC Sports Person of the Year Award and a Guinness World Records certificate, were seen being thrown out.

Paintings and a model aircraft were among other items spotted outdoors.

Yesterday, workmen were seen putting up blue tarpaulins around the spa complex, which is opposite Hannah’s £1.2 million mansion, and more items were removed.

Piles of black bin bags and unwanted furniture were caught piling up outside, alongside an abandoned power plant and pots of paint.

It comes as Hannah and husband Colin lost their battle to overturn the council’s decision to demolish the complex in a bitter dispute.

They had six weeks to save the building after losing a court case in October – but failed to launch an appeal.

The urban inspection previously decided that the health resort was built illegally. it will have to be demolished in three months.

It comes after Central Bedfordshire Council initially gave the couple permission to set up a small charity office on behalf of the Captain Tom Foundation in 2021.

Hannah and Colin’s statement claims the building will be used in part “in connection with the Captain Tom Foundation and its charitable purposes”.

How Captain Sir Tom Moore rose to fame and his daughter’s controversies

March 2020 – D-Day veteran Captain Tom Moore walks 100 laps of his Bedfordshire garden before his 100th birthday, raising £30 million for the NHS during the first closure.
April 2020 – Captain Tom reaches #1 in the charts with his cover of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’. He receives 100,000 cards for his 100th birthday, which is marked by the firing of the Battle of Britain. The train is named after him.
July 2020 – The Queen knighted Captain Tom in a special private ceremony at Windsor Castle.
September 2020 – Hannah Ingram-Moore launches the Captain Tom Foundation to fight loneliness.
December 2020 – Drones swarm in the shape of Captain Tom’s face at the New Year’s fireworks in London.
February 2021 – Captain Sir Tom Moore dies after contracting covid-19.
February 2022 – The Charity Commission launches an investigation into the Captain Tom Foundation after it paid £50,000 to companies run by Hannah Ingram-Moore and her husband Colin.
July 2023 – The foundation stops accepting donations. Planning bosses order Hannah to demolish an unauthorized spa at her Bedfordshire home. The building was approved for use “in connection with the Captain Tom Foundation and its charitable purposes”. However, a larger building with a spa pool was built instead, which was denied retrospective planning permission. Hannah calls out.
September 2023 – accounts reveal Hannah received more than £70,000 to run the foundation.
October 2023 – Hannah loses her appeal and is ordered to tear down the spa and restore the garden to its original state.
January 2023 – Demolition work begins

They then submitted a subsequent retrospective extension application in 2022 to form a C-shaped building, containing a spa pool.

The structure is named Captain Tom’s Building and described as a “new building for the use of the occupiers”, namely Hannah and Colin.

The court heard this later “evolved” to include a spa pool, with changing rooms, toilets and showers attached to their £1.2 million home.

Chartered surveyor James Paynter, speaking on behalf of the family, suggested it could be used for “rehabilitation sessions for older people in the area”.

But Richard Proctor, head of the planning enforcement team, said: “The council’s view is that the building is completely different to the application.”

Meanwhile, inspector Diane Fleming said the building’s “scale and crowding” had “caused damage” to the Old Rectory – a Grade II-listed family home in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire.

In addition to demolishing the thermal baths, the family will have to remove all building materials and restore the land to its “previous state”.

The court was also told that the Foundation will be closed once the Charity Commission investigation is complete.

CONCLUSION CONTROVERSY

The foundation stopped accepting donations in June 2022 after the investigation escalated to a statutory inquiry.

The Charity Commission launched an investigation after the charity’s accounts showed it gave £160,000 to charity while £240,000 was spent on management and fundraising costs.

Also, in the first year of business, more than £54,000 was reimbursed to Club Nook Limited and Maytrix Group Limited, which are controlled by Hannah and her husband.

In a statement, a spokesman said: “At this time, the sole focus of the Captain Tom Foundation is to ensure that it co-operates fully with the ongoing statutory investigation by the Charity Commission.

“As a result, the Captain Tom Foundation is not currently actively seeking any funding from donors.”

The Sun Online contacted Hannah Ingram-Moore for contact.