‘You were hope, when hope was fading’ – how the Forces’ Sweetheart was sent off
She was the voice of hope to a nation during one of the darkest chapters in the UK’S history and Dame Vera Lynn was given a fittingly trumphant send-off.
Known as the Forces’ Sweetheart, Dame Vera was honoured with a flypast in her beloved East Sussex village yesterday ahead of a funeral service in Brighton.
Two Second World War fighter planes soared over Ditchling to remember the late 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 18 June.
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 were 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.
A small police presence was also on hand to ensure proceedings went smoothly.
The cortege paused for several minutes in the centre of the village where Dame Vera lived happily for 60 years, awaiting the flypast.
There was applause from the crowds as the two Second World War fighter planes flew over the little village in honour of the national treasure.
Sounds of the roaring engines filled the streets as the aircraft banked around the Sussex countryside.
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 well-known for.
The cortege was greeted in Brighton by service personnel in uniform outside the chapel, including a military bearer party that was 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 was represented by a senior officer. The funeral service was not open to the public, with attendance limited to a small family group as well as the officer and bugler.
A full memorial service will be held at a later date.
Ahead of the day, a giant portrait of the Forces’ Sweetheart was beamed on to the White Cliffs of Dover to commemorate her life.
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 told how he met Dame Vera at a re-enactment in a marquee surrounded by veterans.
Mr George said: “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 in red, white and blue was pin ned up in the centre of Ditchling following the flypast.
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 when she was ten, said the Forces’ Sweetheart changed her life.
She said: “It’s so sad, but I am glad she is getting a big sendoff, to put it mildly.
“She was a wonderful, wonderful lady and I am so pleased that so many people want to come to pay tribute to her.”
“She was a wonderful, wonderful lady and I am so pleased that so many people want to come to pay tribute to her” AVRIL GAYNOR Fan