Voice of hope lauded
TRIBUTES flowed yesterday for singer Dame Vera Lynn, the voice of wartime hope in Britain, after her death at 103.
Lynn became a symbol of hope during World War II and again during the coronavirus pandemic with We’ll Meet Again.
Known as the “Forces’ Sweetheart”, Lynn struck a chord with soldiers and the public through her performances and records, including The White Cliffs of Dover.
To mark her 100th birthday in 2017, a giant image of a young Lynn was projected on to those white cliffs and a new album released.
She was back in the headlines in April, when the Queen used words from Lynn’s song to tell Britain, “We will meet again”, urging resolve during the coronavirus lockdown.
Lynn died on Thursday, surrounded by close relatives, her family said.
The Queen would send a private message of condolence to Lynn’s family, Buckingham Palace said yesterday.
Beatle Paul McCartney spoke of Lynn’s “warm, funloving personality”.
“Her voice will sing in my heart forever. Thanks Vera,” he said.
Prince Charles and Camilla’s office said they were remembering the singer, while British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted weeted a tribute.
“Dame Vera Lynn’s charm arm and magical cal voice enntranced and d uplifted our country in some of our darkest hours,” ” he wrote on n Twitter.
“Her voice ice will live on n to lift the hearts arts of generations s to come.”
In a BBC C tribute, Lynn’s daughter Virginia Lewis-Jones told of her pride .
“She touched so many people’s lives and we are very, very proud of her,” she said.
Lynn grew up in London’s East End and was singing in working men’s clubs at seven.
But it was her wartime songs that won her fame and led to British tanks trundling into battle with “Vera” painted on their sides and more than 1000 written offers of marriage from servicemen.
Lynn never sought publicity and lived quietly for most of her life on England’s south coast near Brighton with husband Harry Lewis.
“I was lucky,” she said.