Captain Tom's daughter paid thousands for judging but 'none went to foundation'

15 August 2023 , 21:24

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Captain Sir Tom Moore's daughter had funds from a charity event sent to her personal company instead of her father's foundation, it is claimed

Captain Sir Tom Moore's daughter had funds from a charity event appearance sent to her personal company instead of her late father's foundation, according to new allegations.

Hannah Ingram-Moore, 52, worked as a judge on the Virgin Media O2 Captain Tom Foundation Connector Awards in 2021 and 2022, with promotional clips and plaques at the time suggesting she was there on behalf of the Captain Tom Foundation.

BBC Newsnight editor Joe Pike said Ms Ingram-Moore "gave every appearance" she was representing the charity foundation at the awards.

However, new reports from Newsnight suggest her fee for the events was in fact sent to her family company, Maytrix Group.

She was serving as the charity’s interim chief executive at the time on an estimated annual salary of £85,000.

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It is also understood that she did not ask for approval from the Foundation’s board before making the deal with Virgin Media O2.

Ms Ingram-Moore is no longer running the Captain Tom Foundation, but her husband Colin remains a trustee (PA)

Ms Ingram-Moore has since left her role in the charity, though her husband Colin is still listed as a trustee. Both of them are directors of the companies Maytrix Group and Club Nook. A spokesperson for the Captain Tom Foundation told BBC News that they were "aware of the commercial arrangements made by Hannah Ingram-Moore with Virgin Media O2" during her time there.

It comes after the controversy earlier this year surrounding a pool and spa complex built at Ms Ingram-Moore's home in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire in 2021, which was ordered to be pulled down after violating planning permissions. Last month, the Captain Tom Foundation confirmed it had stopped accepting new donations amid an ongoing investigation by the Charity Commission.

Hannah Ingram-Moore, 52, appeared in promotional videos for the Virgin Media O2 Captain Tom Foundation Connector Award

A spokesperson for the charity said in July: "At this moment in time, the sole focus of The Captain Tom Foundation is to ensure that it cooperates fully with the ongoing Statutory Inquiry by the Charity Commission. As a result, The Captain Tom Foundation is not presently actively seeking any funding from donors. Accordingly, we have also taken the decision to close all payment channels whilst the Statutory Inquiry remains open.

"Once the findings of the Statutory Inquiry have been communicated, The Captain Tom Foundation will be in a better position to make a decision in relation to its future, but for now, our main priority is to assist the Charity Commission with its enquiry. In the meantime, on behalf of the trustees of The Captain Tom Foundation, we wish to extend a warm thank you to all our supporters who have enabled us to help charities that were close to Captain Sir Tom’s heart."

Virgin Media O2 said they had started working with Captain Tom directly themselves during lockdown, prior to any concerns being raised

Captain Sir Tom Moore died in February 2021 at Bedford Hospital, several months after he raised £38.9 million for the NHS by walking 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday at the height of the first national Covid lockdown.

The Mirror have approached Mrs Ingram-Moore and Maytrix Group for comment on the latest allegations. Virgin Media O2 said they started working with Captain Tom directly themselves during lockdown, prior to any concerns being raised about governance at the Foundation or Ms Ingram-Moore's companies. They added that the project in question has long since ended.

A Virgin Media spokesperson said: “We worked directly with the late Sir Captain Tom to recognise community groups and charities that went above and beyond during the Covid-19 pandemic. When payment was made, we were not aware of any concerns about Ms Ingram-Moore’s family companies or the Captain Tom Foundation that have since come to light after our campaign and relationship with Captain Tom finished.”

Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas