A KEIGHLEY funeral director has spoken of his pride at being involved in providing a lasting memorial to Captain Sir Tom Moore.

David Gallagher had worked for about four months with the fundraising hero’s family and trust on the arrangements for burial of the casket and a memorial inscription.

The ashes of Captain Sir Tom, who died in February, were interred in a family plot at Morton Cemetery earlier this week.

Mr Gallagher said: “We began our meetings in March to plan the inscription and with the family’s agreement, produced a template of how it would appear in the cemetery.

“We’ve donated the template to Keighley Town Council, hopefully for use within a public area in the town.

“The responsibility of taking this on was quite a task as the memorial couldn’t be moved from Morton Cemetery, where family have been sine the 1930s, so work on the inscription and the image of Captain Sir Tom Moore was carried out onsite on two sunny days last month.”

Monumental mason Robert Morphet and his team from Wright & Sons in Bradford were engaged to do the work, which was completed well ahead of deadline.

Mr Gallagher thanked them – and bereavement services staff in Keighley – for their involvement.

“Without their assistance none of this would have been possible and I’m extremely grateful,” he said.

Mr Gallagher added: “It was a privilege to be asked to carry out this work for the Moore family.

“All along we felt we were making a lasting memorial not only for Captain Sir Tom Moore, but for the people of Keighley to remember him.”

Keighley-born war veteran Captain Sir Tom captured the nation’s hearts last year when he walked laps of his garden to mark his 100th birthday and raise money for NHS Charities Together.

His efforts coined-in over £32 million.

He subsequently received a string of accolades, including a knighthood and the freedom of Keighley.

For the interment of his ashes, a guard of honour was formed at Morton Cemetery as a short graveside service took place. The family was joined by representatives from various Keighley organisations and schools for the ceremony.

Keighley Town Council and Bradford Council had worked with family members to facilitate the service.

Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Shabir Hussain, said: “We are immensely proud of Captain Sir Tom Moore – who is a son of our district, born and bred in Keighley – and of his determination and optimism to get the job done showing true Yorkshire grit.”

Town mayor, Councillor Julie Adams, thanked all those involved in the ceremony.