BEHIND THE SCENES WITH best

‘I want to do something amazing for Dame Vera’

Annie Riley, one half of wartime music duo Swingtime Sweethearts, is a personal friend of Vera Lynn, and one of the producers of a tribute to mark the Dame’s 100th birthday.

Hi, Annie! Can you tell us some more about the event?

Well, I’ve known Dame Vera and her family for 10 years. We met when I was singing war songs at a festival, and there was no way we wanted her birthday to go unmarked. After what she did for our soldiers, it’s one of the last tributes we can pay to her.

Any celebrities involved?

Russell Watson, Bradley Walsh and Bonnie Langford…

Will any veterans be there?

Yes. The Chelsea Pensioners, and veterans such as Charles Clarke, who was a POW in the camp that inspired The Great

Escape. Another veteran who wants to be there is 104. I was joking with him recently about Dame Vera only being 100!

Favourite memory you share?

I was at the Dame’s house the other day, telling her that I had to sing one of her songs called

Up The Wooden Hill. She just sat in her armchair and sang it for me, so I could copy it. It was surreal. I was thinking, ‘Here you are, Annie, sitting next to Dame Vera Lynn, and she’s singing to you.’ Not many people can say that!

How does she feel about this concert?

She’s delighted – especially as we’ve said half of the profits will be split between The Dame Vera Lynn Trust for Children

with Cerebral Palsy and The Not Forgotten Association for disabled ex-service and serving Army people.

Tell us a bit about the Swingtime Sweethearts?

Well, it’s me and Le’arna Castle. We adore singing songs from the 40s, and perform at air shows and festivals. Tickets cost from £50 from rutlive.co.uk. Visit swingtimesweethearts.co.uk