Happy 100th birthday Colonel Thomas Moore - from all of us

It was all hands to the pumps yesterday (Wednesday) for Horncastle balloon man Craig Cash and his nine-year-old daughter Olivia-Mae.
Balloon-tastic: Craig Cash  and daughter Olivia-Mae (9) with their first balloon art sculpture of Colonel Thomas Moore. Picture: John Aron.Balloon-tastic: Craig Cash  and daughter Olivia-Mae (9) with their first balloon art sculpture of Colonel Thomas Moore. Picture: John Aron.
Balloon-tastic: Craig Cash and daughter Olivia-Mae (9) with their first balloon art sculpture of Colonel Thomas Moore. Picture: John Aron.

They were hard at work putting the finishing touches to a special balloon sculpture - for a very special man.

The News revealed last week how the Horncastle duo are entertaining passers-during the Covid-19 pandemic with their amazing displays of ‘twisted’ balloons outside their home in Tennyson Gardens.

One of their latest works was a life-size ‘model’ of NHS fundraiser Thomas Moore.

In honour of his 100th birthday today, Thomas Moore has been promoted to the first Honorary Colonel of the Army Foundation College, Harrogate, in recognition of his incredible NHS fundraising feat.

Colonel Moore shot to fame after raising more than £29m for the NHS by walking laps of the garden at his Bedfordshire home.

And, among all the other presents he is sure to get, will be a balloon model of himself - courtesy of Craig and Olivia-Mae.

When Colonel Moore saw photographs of the balloon last week, he tweeted how ‘delighted and impressed’ he was on his official account.

From that, Craig received a request to ‘twist’ another balloon-image of the World War Two veteran for his birthday.

So, assisted by his daughter, Craig spent three hours yesterday twisting and turning the balloon into an amazing life-like sculpture.

Craig admitted he was ‘honoured’ to be invited to help mark the birthday.

Craig said: “What’s happened over the last few days has been incredible.

“I’ve had all sorts of people contact me but this (Colonel Moore) tops everything.

“It was amazing when I heard how pleased he was (with the first balloon sculpture.)

“People kept saying it was just like him but for the man himself to comment... unbelievable.

“To be asked to do another for his 100th birthday is an honour and a privilege.

“What he’s done is absolutely amazing. He’s a great man.”

Craig admitted his first balloon model of Colonel Moore had deflated.

He revealed: “I popped it myself, so I could have a time-lapse video of how I’d built it in reverse, so to speak.

“This time, I’m going to make sure I record the whole thing!”

A Boston-based haulage company will transport the balloon model from Horncastle to Bedfordshire.

Craig added: “They are picking it up first thing today (Thursday).”

Craig has ‘fingers crossed’ his balloon creation will survive the two-hour journey from Horncastle to Bedfordshire.

He said: “It should be okay. I’ve sent balloons before by courier - but nothing ever as big as this!

“The driver has already been in touch and asked what he should do if the balloon starts to go down.

“I told him to stop , do a U-turn and come back here. A flat balloon is no good to anyone!”

Meanwhile, Craig revealed Channel 4 has contacted him and invited him to appear in a special programme about people who have made the country smile during the pandemic.

He added: I’d like to think this balloon model will be a present from everyone in Lincolnshire to a true hero.”

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