PUNTERS are threatening to boycott a pub after its mural of Captain Sir Tom Moore was painted over.
Regulars at the The Malt Shovel in Pontefract, North Yorkshire were left fuming when they discovered that the image of the late veteran had been removed from the boozer's exterior wall.
The iconic mural featuring Captain Tom with his walking frame was painted in April 2020 by artist Rachel List.
The war hero, who died aged 100 in 2021, became a symbol of hope during the first Covid lockdown as he raised more than £38 million for the NHS by walking 100 laps of his garden.
But some locals have accused his daughter, Hannah Ingram-Moore, of "destroying his legacy" following a row over an unauthorised luxury spa at the family's Bedfordshire home and profits she made from the sale of her dad's books.
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Punters have rallied to demand the mural be repainted - insisting that Tom's memory shouldn't be "erased" on account of his daughter's actions.
Posting on a Yorkshire-based Facebook page set up to slam the decision to remove the mural, one user said: "Sadly his memory is overlooked by what his daughter did."
A second agreed and added: "His legacy has been destroyed by his daughter sadly."
A third called the mural to be reinstated and said: "His legacy should continue regardless of his daughter's actions. His heart was in the right place so put him back!"
But artist Rachel defended the decision to remove the artwork, adding that it was never intended to remain there permanently.
"From day one that wall wasn't in very good condition so it's been four years now and the mural has been peeling off," she said.
"It couldn't last forever and I think people need to remember it brought a lot of joy while it was there and the memories don't just go away because the mural is gone.
"I see why people would want it to stay but it's definitely not a malicious thing and the fact it was there for so long shows that they were preserving it.
"None of the murals were intended to be permanent.
"I'm not saying any of us wanted it gone but there were reasons for it.
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"Others have been painted over elsewhere and they've not received that sort of backlash.
"People are too quick to turn to negativity."
Responding to the outrage on social media, the landlady said she never "intended to upset anyone with the renovations" and "personally had no say in the developments".
It couldn't last forever and I think people need to remember it brought a lot of joy while it was there and the memories don't just go away because the mural is gone
Rachel List
A spokesperson for Stonegate, who owns The Malt Shovel, said: "Our operators at The Maltshovel in Pontefract are delighted to welcome guests back to the pub following an exciting and transformational refurbishment.
"The much-loved High Street local operates as part of Craft Union, the fastest growing operator-led pub company, which prides itself in placing pubs at the heart of the local community.
"We hope that locals and tourists alike love the new look and feel. For further information, please visit the pubs website."
POCKETING FUNDS
Hannah has come under heavy scrutiny after revealing she had pocketed £800,000 from the three books her dad had written in an interview with Piers Morgan in October.
She claimed Captain Tom 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."
The six-figure sum went to her firm Club Nook Ltd, which was set up just four months before the first book, Tomorrow Will Be A Good Day: My Autobiography, was published in September 2020.
The 53-year-old also said she was paid £18,000 to attend an awards ceremony but only £2,000 went to the Captain Tom Foundation, the charity set up in her dad's name.
SPA ROW
In 2021, the council gave the green light for Hannah and husband Colin to build a new office to run the charity at their £1.2million home in Marston Moretaine.
The pair had applied for planning permission in their own names but used the foundation’s name in the design and access and heritage statement.
The application claimed the The Captain Tom Building was to be used partly "in connection with The Captain Tom Foundation and its charitable objectives".
But instead, the family built a 50ft by 20ft pool house with spa, changing rooms, toilets and showers in the garden.
They filed a retrospective application for the add-on but it was refused.
A court heard the add-on later "evolved" to include the spa pool.
Chartered surveyor James Paynter, speaking for the family in court, suggested it could be used for "rehabilitation sessions for elderly people in the area".
But Richard Proctor, Planning Enforcement Team Leader, said: “The Council’s position is that the building is wholly different to the application.”
The £200,000 spa complex was ordered to be torn down by February 7 this year.
The daughter of the beloved war hero looked downcast as she watched demolition workers remove roof tiles, a sink, a toilet, and a home cinema from the site.
Locals told of the family’s "embarrassment" while celebrating its imminent destruction.
Frustrated Ian Knight, told the Independent: “We were proud of what (Captain Tom) has done but now we’re the laughing stock.
“They’ve spoilt everything. It was a good thing what he’s done, and now it’s embarrassing.”
CHARITY PROBE
The latest financial details about the Captain Tom Foundation show a total income of £400,000 and expenditure of £680,000.
Charity Commission bosses have since launched an investigation and the charity has halted fundraising.
A court was also told the Captain Tom Foundation will be shut down when the probe is over.
