Beaming on her 100th …Dame Vera’s face to light up White Cliffs
FOR the troops on the battlefields of World War Two who listened to her songs, her voice conjured up images of home and the White Cliffs of Dover.
And more than 70 years after her wartime classic song gave hope to British troops in action missing Blighty, Dame Vera Lynn’s 100th birthday will be celebrated at the very same place.
The singer’s face will be beamed on to the White Cliffs of Dover on her centenary. The 350ft projection also marks the release of her new album ‘Vera Lynn 100’, with re-orchestrated versions of her music alongside her original vocals.
It is thought the collection makes Dame Vera the first singer to have released a new album as a centenarian. And eight years ago, she became the oldest living artist to release a UK number one album.
Speaking ahead of the event today, Dame Vera Lynn said: ‘It is an unprecedented honour to have my birthday marked in such a beautiful way and I am truly thrilled by this wonderful gesture. ‘As we look to the white cliffs on Monday, I will be thinking of all our brave boys – the cliffs were the last thing they saw before heading off to war and, for those fortunate enough to return, the first thing they saw upon returning home. ‘I feel so blessed to have reached this milestone and I can’t think of a more meaningful way to mark the occasion.’ Dame Vera was known as ‘the Forces’ Sweetheart’ in her early 20s, as she travelled long distances to entertain troops. War veterans, WWII re-enactors, 1940s singers and supporters of the Dame Vera Lynn’s Children’s Charity will gather at the White Cliffs of Dover today to mark her milestone birthday. A pair of original war-time Spitfires will do a rare fly-over and display above the cliffs, and WWII re-enactors will perform a military salute.