Captain Tom Moore garnered more honors Thursday as he added one more digit to his age.
The beloved British war veteran, who raised more than $40 million walking for charity and topped the country’s music charts with a duet during the pandemic, was named honorary colonel of the Army Foundation College in Harrogate as he turned 100.
The academy trains 16- and 17-year-old soldiers.
British Gen. Mark Carleton-Smith said in a statement that Moore’s “mature wisdom, no-nonsense attitude and humour in adversity make him an inspirational role model to generations young and old.”
Captain Tom also received wishes from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who made a celebratory video, and Queen Elizabeth II, who sent a birthday card.
The centenarian became an honorary member of the English cricket team on Thursday, too.
In an interview with the BBC, Moore said, “It hardly feels any different” to be 100, and offered his thanks to well-wishers.
“It’s really absolutely awesome the amount of people who’ve been so kind to make those remarks,” he said.
Captain Tom walked 100 laps around his garden in Bedfordshire, England, this month to fund-raise for the country’s National Health Service.
Then he conquered the music world in a charity cover of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” with singer Michael Ball, becoming the oldest person in history to score a No. 1 hit on the U.K. singles chart.
Ben Wallace, the British defense secretary, said in a statement that Captain Tom “not only embodies the spirit of our incredible veteran community, but the resolve of this nation.”
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