Captain Sir Tom Moore reveals he likes ‘weak tea with plenty of milk and sugar’

Captain Sir Tom Moore has revealed his penchant for cooking, revealing he loves to cook oatmeal biscuits and ‘makes a great Sunday roast’.

The former army officer, 100,  who won the  hearts of the nation by raising more than £30million for the NHS ahead of his 100th birthday, spoke to Waitrose Food magazine’s December issues about his culinary process. 

The World War Two veteran, who lives in Bedfordshire, added that his mother taught him to cook, and he loves tapas and Chinese food at home and despite his Yorkshire roots he enjoys weak tea with plenty of milk and sugar.

‘My mother taught me [to cook],’ he explained.

‘She was an excellent baker and cook. Every Sunday we’d have roast beef and potatoes, and having watched her do it so often, I could also do it. I can make a good Sunday lunch. 

‘We used to make some very nice oatmeal biscuits, some with sugar and some without that you could eat with cheese. 

‘I was always quite popular when I made biscuits,’ he added.   

The World War Two veteran, who was knighted after raising money by walking laps of his Bedfordshire garden in April, said he keeps his strength up with a ‘big bowl of porridge every morning, which he has ‘done all of his life, as far back as he can remember.

‘When I was a boy, my favourite was sausages and mash. Now I really like steak and chips with Yorkshire pudding and plenty of gravy. I still enjoy my food very much.

He added his best meal ever came when his family was on holiday in Southport in 1931.

The World War Two veteran, who was knighted after raising money by walking laps of his Bedfordshire garden in April, said he keeps his strength up with a ‘big bowl of porridge every morning, which he has ‘done all of his life, as far back as he can remember

 ‘I had sausages and mash at a restaurant and it was lovely. I still remember it now!’

He added that he was ‘very fortunate’ to be surrounded by ‘good cooks’  and ‘decent quality’ food while he was in the army, and he’s since picked up a penchant for tapas after serving in Spain.  

‘I spent four years in Spain and I thoroughly enjoyed tapas, eating a little bit here and there. 

‘You didn’t seem to get charged for it, and it was very good. 

‘But my favourite now is Chinese food, especially chicken with pineapple and egg-fried rice.   

And while he has a taste for exotic food, the former Blankety Blank contestant, who was born in Yorkshire, doesn’t enjoy a strong brew. 

‘I don’t really like strong Yorkshire-style tea, even though I’m from Yorkshire. I like fairly weak tea with plenty of milk and some sugar. 

Discussing his typical Christmas, Sir Tom added: ‘We usually have a gathering at my house, with a big turkey and all the things that go with it. 

‘There’s enough food left to eat for a day or two afterwards. We always have trifle, which I’m quite good at making because I put plenty of sherry in it. And lots and lots of thick cream on top. It never lasts long.

‘I like plum pudding, lit up with brandy. When I was small, there were always threepenny or sixpenny pieces in the pudding, for luck.  

‘My favourite drink is a John Collins cocktail. I don’t think it does any harm and it’s made of very nice things, like gin and lemon.

‘I first had it when I was in India. Any time you see me, I’m quite happy to have a John Collins with you!’ he added. 

• Waitrose Food magazine is out today.