She was awarded a DBE in 1975, having already received an OBE in 1969, the Freedom of the City of London in 1978 and the Variety Club International's Humanitarian Award in 1985. The competition included Judy Garland, Dinah Shore and Deanna Durbin who were all from America, which at that time was neutral. She was awarded the title Forces' Sweetheart - a moniker she still holds today - in 1939 following a Daily Express poll among its readers when the Army went to France at the beginning of the war. He became her manager and they remained devoted to each other. In 1940 she went solo and the following year her life took a dramatic change, including her marriage to Harry Lewis, a clarinet and saxophone player with the Squadronaires. In addition, she was doing regular radio broadcasts. She was 21 at the outbreak of war and her career was just starting to flower, having already appeared on early, experimental television with Ambrose. She remained with the Ambrose Orchestra until 1940.
White cliffs of dover guitar solo full#
The 350ft image also celebrates the release of Dame Vera's new album, 'Vera Lynn 100', complete with full orchestra and choir Two years later she joined a juvenile troupe and by 1932, at just 15 years old, she was running her own dancing school.įrom 1935 she was singing on radio with the famous Joe Loss band and then in 1937 she started to sing with the Ambrose Orchestra, which played in West End nightclubs like the Cafe Royal and the Mayfair. War veterans, WWII reenactors, 1940s singers and supporters of the Dame Vera Lynn's Children's Charity gathered at the White Cliffs of Dover today in order to mark the national treasure's milestone birthday.ĭame Vera grew up in East Ham and made her singing debut aged seven at an East End working men's club.
Talking about her work to entertain the troops and boost morale, she said: 'It was wonderful to be able to do something in those times' and she added: 'I'm glad it helped them to hold on to home.' 'They don't do anything like that now, change their dress for each song they sang.'Īsked if she had any advice on getting older, Dame Vera, who made her stage debut at the age of seven, offered: 'Be active to your full capabilities, keep interested, read books, watch television and try and keep in touch with life and what people are doing, seeing and enjoying.' 'The people wanted an encore so I would go off, take that dress off, and put another one on to go back to sing a second song. Remembering the early days of her career, she laughed: 'I remember very clearly, when I first sang to the boys, I was just told to go on a stage dressed in a pretty dress and sing a song, which I did. 'And this is what I have got up there on my mantelpiece, to remind me of how old I am.' She told the Chris Evans Breakfast Show: 'When I look on my mantelpiece and see these cards wishing me a happy 100th birthday I can't believe it, but there you are, time marches on.
She said she could not believe she had turned 100 - but that 'time marches on' - as she celebrated her landmark birthday.
It is thought the collection makes Dame Vera the first singer to have released a new album as a centenarian.Īt the age of 92, Dame Vera became the oldest living artist to land a UK number one album, which also made the performer the only singer in the world to have spanned the pop charts from the 1940s to the 21st century. Veteran George Batts (middle) accompanied by reenactors stood atop the White Cliffs as they honoured the forces' sweetheartĭame Vera's new album, 'Vera Lynn 100', released on Friday, features new re-orchestrated versions of her most beloved music alongside her original vocals.
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