Hannah Ingram-Moore and her husband Colin, who are now disqualified from serving as charity trustees, had allowed the public to “understandably feel misled” after sales from the Second World War veteran’s autobiography were not donated to the charity.
The Charity Commission found that Ms Ingram-Moore had set out expectations for a £150,000 salary as CEO, and that the couple had used the charity’s name “inappropriately for private benefit” to erect a spa building in the garden of their Grade II listed home in Bedfordshire.
Key findings from the report include:
There were “serious and repeated instances of misconduct and/or management” in the administration of the charity by the conduct and actions of the couple.
To date, the charity has received no money from a publishing deal which saw Captain Tom author three books, despite a misleading implication that donations from book sales would be made. The £1.5m advance deal is described as “a purely commercial endeavour” to benefit the couple’s company Club Nook.
Public statements about not being offered a six-figure salary, while technically accurate, were “disingenuous”, as written evidence showed Ms Ingram-Moore had expected a £150,000 pay package.
The inquiry found “no evidence” to support Ms IngramMoore’s claims she undertook an £18,000 paid ambassador role for presenting an award in a personal capacity.
The couple did not inform or seek consent from the foundation’s other trustees before using the charity name to submit a planning application to build a spa/pool facility.
Captain Tom became famous during the Covid-19 pandemic in April 2020 by walking 100 laps around his garden ahead of his 100th birthday to raise money for the NHS.
His efforts raised £38.9m and catapulted him into fame, which saw him knighted by the late Queen at Windsor Castle before his death in January 2021.
This story is from the November 21, 2024 edition of The Independent.
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This story is from the November 21, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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