Colonel Tom Moore is of the fine generation who, because of what they did in their yesterdays, ensured that - as he put it himself on Twitter @CaptainTomMoore - 'Today will be a good day'...   ...and thanks to the continuing perseverence and fortitude of everyone's favourite centenarian, so will all our tomorrows.

Even the trying times of Covid-19 and Coronavirus could not defeat him - indeed, he was stirred into further action.  Colonel Tom Moore is truly remarkable, and we congratulate him on his life's achievements, recent and past.

We join with the whole of the nation, sir, in sending you the very best wishes from everyone at Norwich's Phoenix Male Voice Choir on your very special day today, your 100th Birthday!

We will not compete with the many accolades he has received today, the variety of which is truly staggering and richly-deserved...   ...140,000 birthday cards, including 'that one' from Her Majesty the Queen; a flypast by a Hurricane and a Spitfire from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (which, along with a Lancaster bomber, was a magnificent spectacle witnessed by this Tweep from the ramparts of Castle Cornel in Guernsey's St Peter Port many years ago); promotion to honorary Colonel of his Regiment; award of an England Cricket cap and honorary membership of the England Cricket Team; freedom of the City of London; etc., etc.

But our best honour is to recognise his continual putting others before self...   ...he is STILL walking, just as he promised.  He will today complete his 200th and final garden lap, which will bring an end his walking endeavour, and raising at least £31,000,000 for NHS Charities in the process, having hoped for just £1,000 those many days ago.  And among all this, humility...   ...the enduring mark of the man is that he still wants to be called 'Captain Tom'.

Well, sir, we can think of many names for you and all richly generous in their praise...
...but we think it is appropriate that as a Choir from Norfolk, our 'electronic' best wishes and congratulations are accompanied by the much-admired work of very talented Norfolk artist Rebecca Osborne [www.RebeccaOsborne.co.uk and twitter @RebeccaVOsborne].

Happy 100th Birthday and Thank You 'Captain Tom' Moore, our medal-wearing Superhero and Pride of Britain!

It's not very often we amend a 'just released' blog - usually just to surreptitiously amend a typo, or correct a broken link ;)...  ...but this amendment is 'bang on theme' and won't wait a couple of weeks!!!

We've seen, 'followed' in the twittersphere (note: more on our Twitter page below!), and admired the work of talented Norfolk artist Rebecca Osborne (@rebeccavosborne) for quite some time now, and who among us has not been moved by the endeavours of 99-year-old Captain Tom Moore (@captaintommoore), responsible for raising getting on for £20 million (he has said he will keep walking, if we keep donating...!) for NHS charities?

The name of 'Captain Tom' will be on the tips of our tongues for many-a-while to come, and all the accolades currently coming his way are so richly deserved.  Rebecca had designed an illustration of NHS workers captioned 'Not All Superheroes Wear Capes...'...   ...a timely reminder if ever there was one...   ...and has been reimaging and augmenting her original design with different images.  A later design features images of different key workers.

She has now added Captain Tom Moore to the centre of her design, and to recognise both their endeavours, we are delighted to replace our Twitter banner (of Winnie the Pooh telling Piglet it was right that we go home) with that of Rebecca's featuring the Captain and the representatives of all our other 'capeless' Heroes.  Because of size constraints, the lower portion of the design will not be visible, but it shows a twitter 'hashtag' of what 'can not go without saying' to all of our Heroes:  #ThankYou

Those unfamiliar with Rebecca's talent can read more about her in this BBC website article on them both: https://bbc.in/2xEWdD3

Three weeks in lockdown is having an effect...  ...we were due in Aylsham this weekend and our Norwich 'home' next, but these concerts can not happen.  This 'wicked' virus is impacting upon our communities up and down the country, even as we distance to stop its potency.  We make it harder to catch, or pass on, but not go.  We'll win a skirmish, a battle... ...but not yet the war.  Second World War British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, with played-down reserve following a notable success for the Allied Forces, referred to 'perhaps the end of the beginning'.  More time 'indoors' for us is inevitable.

Some of our chorister number were wartime youngsters and throwbacks to those dark days is more than appropriate.  The frontline today is not our beloved Armed Forces; they have a supporting role.  The 'regiments' of NHS Staff offering unstinting compassion, care and support to all, and the Key Workers who are maintaining every aspect of society, are today's guardians.  Their courage, cheerfulness and resolution inspire us all to #StayHome in order to #StaySafe.  A weekly moment on our doorstep in audible heartfelt admiration seems inadequate recognition, even if accompanied by a thousand thanks each one.     

Our 10th Anniversary Year is certainly more 'virtual' than we anticipated, but it's bringing unexpected milestones.  On our 5th Birthday, we opened our Twitter account, since when @PhoenixMVC has been keeping in touch with valued Supporters, other Male Voice Choir Brothers in Song, choral ensemble singing friends, the professional singers and musicians in our Twittersphere, and folk local and round the world who simply want to, er, keep in touch.

On Easter Monday, we attracted our 1,000th Follower.  So, whether you were number 1 in July 2015, or you were that 1,000th Follower, 'thank you' for your friendship and support of our Choir...   ...indeed, a thousand thanks to you all!