４４億円集めた１００歳の退役軍人に爵位、エリザベス女王が授与

【ロンドンＡＦＰ＝時事】新型コロナウイルスが流行する中で英国の医療従事者らのために約3300万ポンド（約44億円）の寄付を集め、国民的英雄となったトム・ムーアさん（100）が17日、エリザベス女王（94）からナイトの爵位を正式に授与された。（写真は英ロンドン西郊のウィンザー城で、ムーアさん〈右〉の肩を剣で触れ、ナイトの爵位を授与するエリザベス女王）
　第２次世界大戦中にインドやミャンマーで従軍した退役軍人のムーアさんは、新型ウイルスと最前線で闘う医療従事者らのために寄付を募ろうと自宅の庭を歩行器で２５メートルを１００回歩くチャレンジに成功。英国の人々の心をつかみ、世界中から称賛を浴びた。
　ボリス・ジョンソン英首相は５月、ロックダウン（都市封鎖）中に「導きの光」となったムーアさんの功績をたたえ、「ナイトの爵位」を授与すると発表していた。
　英陸軍のヨークシャー連隊はムーアさんに名誉大佐の称号を授与。さらに、歌手で俳優のマイケル・ボールさんと歌った医療従事者への応援歌は国内の音楽シングルチャートで１位を獲得した。
　この日のエリザベス女王は自主隔離を取りやめ、滞在先であるロンドン西郊のウィンザー城の中庭で特別式典を開催。ムーアさんにとって、異例ずくめの１年で最も異例の出来事となった。
　手入れが行き届いたウィンザー城の中庭でエリザベス女王は、ダークカラーのスーツを着て歩行器を使うムーアさんや家族と懇談。「驚くほどの額の寄付金を集めてくれて、本当にありがとう」とムーアさんに語り掛けた。
　ムーアさんは式後、「非常に感激して恐縮している」「これほどの栄誉を与えられるとは、しかも女王陛下から受け取るなんて。これ以上のことを望めるだろうか」「とても素晴らしい日になった」と述べている。
　エリザベス女王が国民と対面したのは、新型ウイルスの流行を受けて公務を中断して以降初めて。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/07/20-13:20）

A 100-year-old World War II veteran who became a coronavirus lockdown hero by raising millions for British health charities was knighted Friday in a special ceremony by Queen Elizabeth II.
Captain Tom Moore raised nearly ��33 million ($41.3 million, 36.1 million euros) by completing 100 laps of his garden, winning hearts across Britain and plaudits around the world.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in May the Burma campaign veteran would be made a Sir in recognition of his achievement and for being a beacon of light in lockdown.
He had already been promoted to honorary colonel by the Yorkshire Regiment, and even got to number one in the charts in a collaboration with the singer Michael Ball.
The queen, 94, topped an extraordinary year for Moore by breaking her own enforced lockdown for a special open-air ceremony at her Windsor Castle home, west of London.
She has been staying at the sprawling castle with her 99-year-old husband Prince Philip since mid-March because their age puts them at high risk of contracting COVID-19.
The monarch, in an aquamarine frock coat and matching hat, dubbed Moore a knight of the realm using a sword belonging to her father, king George VI.
The queen chatted to Moore, who was dressed in a smart dark suit and supported by a walking frame, on the manicured castle quadrangle, and members of his family.
Thank you so much, an amazing amount of money you raised, the monarch told him.
I am absolutely overawed, Moore said afterwards. This is such a high award and to get it from Her Majesty as well -- what more can anyone wish for?
This has been an absolutely magnificent day for me.
It was the queen's first face-to-face meeting with a member of the public since her engagements were put on hold as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
She has, however, appeared on several videoconferencing calls from self-isolation.
Moore's remarkable fundraising effort came from modest beginnings.
He initially planned to raise ��1,000 by walking around his garden in the village of Marston Moretaine, between Bedford and Milton Keynes in southern England, before he turned 100.
But his effort struck a chord with the public under stay-at-home restrictions, and donations came flooding in. He completed his goal on April 17.
His 100th birthday on April 30 was marked by a Royal Air Force flypast, which was broadcast live on television. Some 140,000 people sent him cards.