SPECIAL BOND
Dame Vera Lynn’s death — Queen sends private message of condolence to family of Forces’ Sweetheart
THE Queen has sent a private message of condolence to the family of Forces’ Sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn.
A royal source said: “The Queen admired Dame Vera immensely and believed she played a vital role in the Allied victory during the Second World War.
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“Her Majesty has sent a private message to Dame Vera’s family expressing her sadness at her passing.”
The Forces' sweetheart who became a national treasure during World War Two, sang iconic wartime classics We'll Meet Again and White Cliffs of Dover which not only inspired the nation but also generations to come.
Just two months ago, the Queen made a reference to Dame Vera's songs in her address to the nation about coronavirus lockdown, saying "we will meet again".
In Vera's last interview with The Sun, she told of her pride in Her Majesty using the lines from her famous song.
Speaking from her home in Ditchling, East Sussex, she told The Sun in April: “I watched the Queen’s speech which was wonderful, but I didn’t know that Her Majesty was going to finish up with the words, ‘We will meet again’.
“I have met the Queen on a number of occasions.
"You have to have something and someone that we can all look up to and rely on in times of trouble, and Her Majesty is that person.”
Her family confirmed the sad news in a statement on Thursday morning.
Dame Vera had continued to be in good health until the end of her life, and had continued giving interviews as recently as VE Day last month.
Vera was symbol of hope for Britain during one of its darkest hours in history - and instilled a spirit of optimism in the hearts of the nation.
In May, she urged the nation to "remember the brave boys and what they sacrificed for us".
She added: "They left their families and homes to fight for our freedom and many lost their lives trying to protect us and our liberties."
In May this year, she also became the oldest artist to score a top 40 album in the UK.
Her greatest hits album 100 re-entered the charts at number 30.
Vera dedicated much of her life to supporting military veterans.
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On turning 103 in March, Dame Vera said: "Thank you all for the kind gifts, cards and gestures I received to celebrate my birthday this year.
“0nce again, I am overwhelmed by everyone’s kindness and generosity, and am so grateful to you all for helping me to mark this milestone.
“I feel very fortunate to have reached 103, and my day will be made all the more special by hearing from people all around the world.
“Thank you also for your generosity towards my Charitable Trust as I care very much about the work it does and the donations received around my birthday are the best gift imaginable.”
Vera was famously known for singing The White Cliffs Of Dover, There'll Always Be An England, I'll Be Seeing You, Wishing and If Only I Had Wings, to help raise British spirits during the Blitz.
She once said: "My songs reminded the boys of what they were really fighting for.
"Precious, personal things, rather than ideologies and theories."
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'AN ICON'
Tributes have flooded in for the wartime singer.
Boris Johnson paid tribute to Dame Vera saying her “charm and magical voice entranced and uplifted our country in some of our darkest hours. Her voice will live on to lift the hearts of generations to come”.
His fiancee Carrie Symonds tweeted that Dame Vera's death was "very sad", adding: "Will be playing her music here today. RIP."
Captain Tom Moore shared how Vera had ";huge impact" on the veteran.
He tweeted: "A real shame, I really thought Vera Lynn would live longer she's been speaking so well on TV recently. She had a huge impact on me in Burma and remained important to me throughout my life. My thoughts are with Dame Vera Lynn's family at this sad time".
Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan tweeted: "Oh no.... what terribly sad news. Dame Vera Lynn has died, aged 103.
"A magnificent woman who rallied our country when we most needed it. The Forces sweetheart. The Nation's sweetheart. RIP."
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Singer Katherine Jenkins hailed Vera as an "icon" and said "there will never be another Dame Vera Lynn".
She said: "I simply cannot find the words to explain just how much I adored this wonderful lady.
"Her voice brought comfort to millions in their darkest hours, her songs filled the nation's hearts with hope, and her emotive performances, whether home or abroad, then or now, helped to get us through.
"It was she who chose the sentiments of her songs - she knew instinctively what people needed to hear, how to rally the morale and her spirit and strength created the soundtrack of a generation.
"There will never be another Dame Vera Lynn. Forces' Sweetheart and our sweetheart. An icon. A legend. An inspiration.
"My mentor and my friend. I will miss you greatly and I know we'll meet again some sunny day."
The Royal British Legion paid tribute to Dame Vera calling her "an unforgettable British icon" and a "much loved longstanding Legion supporter".
The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall tweeted a photo tribute from the Clarence House Twitter account for the wartime singer.
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DEDICATED TO SERVICE
Vera was born in East Ham, East London, on March 20, 1917.
She flew 25,000 miles performing for troops during the war, often at great personal risk, in countries including Egypt, India and Burma.
Vera was only 24 when she performed for the troops in Burma and earned the Burma Star in 1985 in honour of her contribution.
The singer married clarinettist and saxophonist Harry Lewis in 1941.
In 1946 their only child Virginia was born. Harry died in 1998.
TRIBUTES TO FORCE'S SWEETHEART DAME VERA LYNN
Some of the tributes paid to Dame Vera Lynn
BORIS JOHNSON said: “Her charm and magical voice entranced and uplifted our country in some of our darkest hours. Her voice will live on to lift the hearts of generations to come.”
CAPTAIN TOM MOORE, the World War Two veteran who raised £39million for the NHS, said: “She had a huge impact on me (when I served) in Burma and remained important to me throughout my life.”
KATHERINE JENKINS, who recorded a duet with Dame Vera, below right, said: “I simply cannot find the words to explain just how much I adored this wonderful lady.”
SIR CLIFF RICHARD said: “She was held in such high esteem and my best, and favourite, memory was sharing a performance with her in front of Buckingham Palace for the VE Day celebrations in 1995. We walked to the stage through a crowd of survivors of that war and they were reaching out to touch and get a smile from Vera. I heard the words . . . ‘God bless you’ . . . ‘Thank you’ . . . ‘We love you’ for their very own Forces’ Sweetheart! A great singer, a patriotic woman and a genuine icon.”
ALFIE BOE, who sang on her 100th birthday album, said: “Such sad news, especially at this time when her iconic song and spirit touched the nation.”
MICHAEL BALL added: “Her talent was so very rare and special, her service to this country an inspiration.”
Vera's supported many charities througout her life until she ided.
She was founder and president of the Dame Vera Lynn Children's Charity - which helps young children with cerebral palsy and other motor learning difficulties to "get the best possible start to life".
Virginia Lewis-Jones, the singer's daughter, said she started raising awareness for the disease in the 1950s.
Dame Vera was recognised for her services to entertainment and charity in 2016 after being made a Member of the Order of Companions of Honour in the Queen's Birthday Honours.
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Her family revealed the news in a statement on Thursday morning.
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A statement said: "The family are deeply saddened to announce the passing of one of Britain's best-loved entertainers at the age of 103.
"Dame Vera Lynn, who lived in Ditchling, East Sussex, passed away earlier today, 18 June 2020, surrounded by her close family."
Esther Rantzen pays touching tribute to friend Dame Vera Lynn after her death at 103
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