Farewell Sweetheart as Spitfires honour Dame Vera at funeral
DAME Vera Lynn was honoured with a flypast yesterday in her beloved East Sussex village ahead of her funeral as two Spitfires soared over Ditchling to remember the late singer.
The aircraft made three passes over the 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.
As a cortege bearing Dame Vera’s coffin, which was draped in a Union flag, made its way out of the village where she lived for 60 years, there were 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 well-known for.
The cortege arrived in the centre of Ditchling as a bell tolled.
Applause from the crowd greeted the convoy, which was led by soldiers.
Hundreds of people gathered at the crossroads in Ditchling ahead of the arrival of the funeral cortege.
Representatives from the Royal British Legion stood in the road with flags as they waited to honour Dame Vera. Every lamppost in the village bore a large poppy and shop windows displayed portraits of Dame Vera.
Ahead of the day, a giant portrait of the Forces Sweetheart was beamed onto the White Cliffs of Dover to commemorate her life. The projection on the 350ft cliffs was visible to ships and planes and could also be seen from the main road and some back gardens.
Dame Vera, who had sold more than a million records by the age of 22, was also remembered for singing The White Cliffs Of Dover.
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.”
She also urged people to continue to back the causes that were important to her mother, adding: “We are sure her music will endure forever but most importantly, we hope people will continue to support those charities that she cared about so much.
“It means so much to us to see my mother’s legacy living on.”
Second World War re-enactor Steve George, 59, went to Ditchling to pay tribute. He told how 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.”
Avril Gaynor, who first met Dame Vera Lynn when she was 10, said the Forces’ Sweetheart changed her life.
She said: “It’s so sad, but I am glad she is getting a big send-off – to put it mildly.
“She was a wonderful, wonderful lady and I am so pleased so many people want to come to pay tribute to her.”
After leaving Ditchling, the cortege moved on to the crematorium in Brighto.n.
A full memorial service for Dame Vera will be held at a later date.