Western Daily Press (Saturday)
FAREWELL, DAME VERA
DAME Vera Lynn was honoured with a flypast in her beloved East Sussex village ahead of her funeral.
Two Second World War fighter planes soared over Ditchling to remember the singer.
The aircraft made three passes over the quiet village before leaving to applause from the crowd.
The adored singer, who entertained troops with morale-boosting visits to the front line during the Second World War, died aged 103 on June 18.
The cortege bearing Dame Vera’s coffin, which was draped in a Union flag, arrived in the village centre as a bell tolled.
Hundreds of people gathered at the crossroads ahead of the procession, which was led by soldiers.
Representatives from the Royal British Legion stood in the road with flags as they waited to honour Dame Vera.
The cortege paused for several minutes in the centre of the village, where Dame Vera lived happily for 60 years, awaiting the flypast.
The cortege then made its way out of the village as it continued its route to the crematorium in Brighton, bid farewell by shouts of “hip hip hooray” from the crowd in her honour.
It was followed by a spontaneous rendition of We’ll Meet Again, one of the songs Dame Vera was wellknown for.
The cortege was greeted in Brighton by a tri-service route-lining party outside the chapel, together with a military bearer party ready to receive the coffin.
A bugler from the Royal Marines was drafted in to provide a musical tribute inside the chapel, and the Ministry of Defence were represented by a senior officer who, along with the bugler and the small family group, were the only people to attend the funeral service.
A full memorial service will be held at a later date.
Virginia Lewis-Jones, Dame Vera’s daughter, said: “We want to thank everyone for their tremendous support over the past few weeks.
“My mother always appreciated receiving messages from all over the world, and Ditchling was always particularly special to her. That is why we know she would be touched that so many people want to pay their respects.”
Second World War re-enactor Steve George, 59, came to Ditchling to pay tribute.
He said he met the Forces’ Sweetheart at a re-enactment in a marquee surrounded by veterans.
Mr George said: “We had a group photograph with Dame Vera. We were all gathered round her dressed as the different generals.
“She was wonderful, absolutely wonderful, she had time for everybody. It’s the end of an era but she will never be forgotten.”
A large print of Dame Vera Lynn in red, white and blue was pinned up in the centre of Ditchling.
One of the tributes written on the colourful print in silver pen read: “Vera, you were hope, when hope was fading.
“You were our smiles, when smiling was a struggle.
“You touch hearts all over the world and you will forever be in ours.”
Avril Gaynor, who first met Dame Vera Lynn when she was 10, said that the Forces’ Sweetheart changed her life.
She said: “It’s so sad, but I am glad she is getting a big send-off. She was a wonderful, wonderful lady.”
We want to thank everyone for their tremendous support over the past few weeks
VIRGINIA LEWIS-JONES