Pontefract pays special tribute to Captain Sir Tom Moore with town artwork

On Tuesday night, Pontefract Civic Society approached the town’s homegrown artist, Rachel List, about a collaboration to honour the legacy of Captain Sir Tom.

In less than 24 hours, the society’s decoration squad managed to plan and put up two pieces of Rachel’s artwork at the Red Lion pub on Market Place.

The artwork consists of two boards, the VE Day anniversary painting and the second being Rachel’s latest creation.

Society vice chairman, Phil Cook, who coordinated the partners to deliver the tribute said: “We are very honoured to be able to pay a special tribute to Captain Sir Tom.

"The Decoration Squad has managed to bring this together in less than 24 hours with support from Rachel List, Chris Taylor from Tracked Spider Solutions and Scott Wilson, the new landlord at the Red Lion.

“It seems appropriate to reuse the display we have to mark this sad time, and to honour Captain Sir Tom - rest in peace from a grateful community.

“Our thoughts are with you and your family.”

In just a matter of hours, Rachel painted a whole new piece of art, which depicts a vintage Spitfire flying with a rainbow trail behind it, accompanied by the words ‘Fly high Captain Tom’.

It also shows him walking while wearing the medal he received from the Queen.

Scott Wilson from the Red Lion pub said: “We will get through this and come out the other side.

“Your legacy, Captain Tom, will live on, we will keep fighting, and we will keep smiling - stand easy soldier, your work here is done.

“It’s an honour to display the tribute to a truly amazing man."

Following the news of Captain Sir Tom's death, a number of floral tributes were left under one of the murals at the Malt Shovel.

And Rachel's art work was erected upon the front of the Red Lion on the afternoon of Wednesday February 3.

Paul Cartwright, civic society Chair said: “Captain Sir Tom was a legend in his own lifetime, an officer and a gentleman, an inspirational optimist, and an immense NHS fundraiser.

“We clapped for you at 6pm on Wednesday, and we’ll look for your bright star in the sky.

“Pontefract salutes you, Sir - tomorrow Will Be A Good Day.”

The civic society saw fit that Rachel’s art would represent the town’s tribute due to her collection of street art and murals to celebrate the work of the NHS, frontline workers, and Captain Tom, all at the request of property owners.

She received international recognition for her work over the course of lockdown.

Rachel said: “When creating the new board, I thought about how my murals were inspired by major events and whenever I’d read a new news story, I’d process it in terms of creative ideas.

“When Captain Tom passed, I thought of him walking with his aid, and when I think of elderly people I see their passing as a nice release for their body.

“So I painted him gaining his rainbow wings as a nod to his work for the NHS - I like the idea of him flying high and getting his wings.

“He’s been a Covid hero and he’s probably the most significant person we’ve seen in the public eye that's been affected over the pandemic.

“He’s led an amazing life, all the best to his family and I hope we can all pull together to keep the tributes going.”