Vera Lynn

Indelibly associated with the Second World War, Vera Lynn's nostalgic, sentimental anthems “We'll Meet Again” and “White Cliffs Of Dover” maintain a formidable hold on the British psyche. So much so that, at the age of 92, Dame Vera became the oldest living artist to top the UK album charts with her Best Of... collection in 2009. Born on March 20th, 1917 in East Ham as the daughter of a plumber, she first started performing in working men's clubs when she was seven and, while a teenager, starting singing with Joe Loss's dance band, recording her first single “Up The Wooden Hill To Bedfordshire” in 1936. By 1940 she had her own radio programme Sincerely Yours, sending messages to British troops serving abroad and singing requests from soldiers. She also gave concerts for the troops abroad and in 1942 recorded the most affecting song of the war, “We'll Meet Again”, also starring in a film of the same name. Her “Auf Wiedersehen Sweetheart” later became the first record by a UK performer to top the US charts and her recordings remained popular through the 1950s and 1960s as she continued to perform in variety shows and subsequent war anniversary events. Celebrating her centenary in 2017 with the landmark compilation Vera Lynn 100, she ultimately reached the ripe old age of 103, passing away peacefully at home in East Sussex on June 18th, 2020. Her loss was felt collectively by the British public, with tributes pouring in from a whole host of national icons including the Queen, prominent politicians and Sir Paul McCartney, and she was honoured with a military funeral, with members of the public turning out in droves to join the procession.