Thought for today:
"Today is the 100th birthday of my mother's all time favourite singer and a good friend to me and my charitable work since 1990. If Nelson Mandela was one of the world's most respected men and Mother Teresa of Calcutta thought to be the most compassionate, then, along with Winston Churchill, and the British bulldog spirit who refuses to stay down when the chips are down, Vera Lynn helped many a homesick soldier on the front to fight on another day by reminding them what they were fighting for through her radio broadcasts and her many concerts for the troops on the war front, especially during the vicious fighting in Burma.
I have heard more than one war veteran recall that simply hearing her sing the songs, 'White cliffs of Dover' and 'We'll Meet Again' when their spirits were low, say that it gave them the boost they needed to carry on. She was effectively the best war time tonic the nation needed at the time. She was also the first British performer to top the U.S, charts in 1952 with 'Auf Wiedersehn Sweetheart.'
Vera was also the first British performer to have a number one hit with 'We'll meet Again' In 1939, a poll of British servicemen voted her their favourite and the name 'The Force's Sweetheart' stayed with her for the rest of her life. I don't have to recount the numerous occasions she has helped me with her charitable works since 1990, often giving me very personal items to auction off for one good cause or another. Indeed, I have never been one to collect signatures of favourite people, but when she read one of my books down in a school in Ditchling ('Robin and the Rubicelli Fussiliers': a book about the Second World War years and London during the Blitz for the British evaccuees) where she lives during the 1990's and signed it for me, I was over the moon and will always treasure it.
Born Vera Welch in East London she was well acquainted with the scenes in my book. She changed her name to Vera Lynn by adopting her grandmother's maiden name as her own surname and was singing in working men's clubs as young as seven years old. One of her teachers thought she had a 'freak voice' but the vast populace who heard her before she became famous were enthralled by it.
I have heard from some war veterans that her songs were capable of reducing grown men to tears; something that was less seen during the 1940's and the time of 'the stiff upper lip.' Even when she wasn't acting as a warden or entertaining the troops abroad she would be singing to them in the factories and workplaces, along with visiting and singing to the injured in hospitals. When she was interviewed on 'Desert Island Discs,' Sue Lawley described her as still being on 'active service' and until most recent years, she was! Her good friend Harry Secombe once credited her by saying that Churchill didn't beat the Nazis; Vera sang them to death!
Dame Vera was the late Queen Mother's favourite singer and became a good friend to her. She celebrated her 80th birthday by taking tea with Princess Margaret. Vera also enjoyed a long and happy marriage. She was married to her husband Harry, for 58 years, who sadly died in 1998. Long life comes in the Welch family and her older brother, Robert, turns 103-years-old next month!
Although she has had her fair share of awards and recognition, along with another friend of mine, Hannah Hauxwell, she is one of the most down-to-earth, level-headed women I have known. To each person over 70 years of age she will hold a special memory. When I hear her sing 'We'll Meet Again' I instantly recall my loving mother singing this song as she scrubbed the lino floors daily and a went happily about her work. Had mum only known that one day her favourite singer and oldest son would become friends, she would have smiled with pride.
A very happy birthday, Dame Vera. May your special day be filled with much happiness, love and some of the peace and hope you brought to our boys in the muddy trenches dreaming of their families and homes in England seventy years ago. Many people are loved by family and friends but few by a nation who will never forget you and your works. Your friend, Bill x" William Forde : March 19th, 2017.
youtu.be/OvgM_xcx2GI
"Today is the 100th birthday of my mother's all time favourite singer and a good friend to me and my charitable work since 1990. If Nelson Mandela was one of the world's most respected men and Mother Teresa of Calcutta thought to be the most compassionate, then, along with Winston Churchill, and the British bulldog spirit who refuses to stay down when the chips are down, Vera Lynn helped many a homesick soldier on the front to fight on another day by reminding them what they were fighting for through her radio broadcasts and her many concerts for the troops on the war front, especially during the vicious fighting in Burma.
I have heard more than one war veteran recall that simply hearing her sing the songs, 'White cliffs of Dover' and 'We'll Meet Again' when their spirits were low, say that it gave them the boost they needed to carry on. She was effectively the best war time tonic the nation needed at the time. She was also the first British performer to top the U.S, charts in 1952 with 'Auf Wiedersehn Sweetheart.'
Vera was also the first British performer to have a number one hit with 'We'll meet Again' In 1939, a poll of British servicemen voted her their favourite and the name 'The Force's Sweetheart' stayed with her for the rest of her life. I don't have to recount the numerous occasions she has helped me with her charitable works since 1990, often giving me very personal items to auction off for one good cause or another. Indeed, I have never been one to collect signatures of favourite people, but when she read one of my books down in a school in Ditchling ('Robin and the Rubicelli Fussiliers': a book about the Second World War years and London during the Blitz for the British evaccuees) where she lives during the 1990's and signed it for me, I was over the moon and will always treasure it.
Born Vera Welch in East London she was well acquainted with the scenes in my book. She changed her name to Vera Lynn by adopting her grandmother's maiden name as her own surname and was singing in working men's clubs as young as seven years old. One of her teachers thought she had a 'freak voice' but the vast populace who heard her before she became famous were enthralled by it.
I have heard from some war veterans that her songs were capable of reducing grown men to tears; something that was less seen during the 1940's and the time of 'the stiff upper lip.' Even when she wasn't acting as a warden or entertaining the troops abroad she would be singing to them in the factories and workplaces, along with visiting and singing to the injured in hospitals. When she was interviewed on 'Desert Island Discs,' Sue Lawley described her as still being on 'active service' and until most recent years, she was! Her good friend Harry Secombe once credited her by saying that Churchill didn't beat the Nazis; Vera sang them to death!
Dame Vera was the late Queen Mother's favourite singer and became a good friend to her. She celebrated her 80th birthday by taking tea with Princess Margaret. Vera also enjoyed a long and happy marriage. She was married to her husband Harry, for 58 years, who sadly died in 1998. Long life comes in the Welch family and her older brother, Robert, turns 103-years-old next month!
Although she has had her fair share of awards and recognition, along with another friend of mine, Hannah Hauxwell, she is one of the most down-to-earth, level-headed women I have known. To each person over 70 years of age she will hold a special memory. When I hear her sing 'We'll Meet Again' I instantly recall my loving mother singing this song as she scrubbed the lino floors daily and a went happily about her work. Had mum only known that one day her favourite singer and oldest son would become friends, she would have smiled with pride.
A very happy birthday, Dame Vera. May your special day be filled with much happiness, love and some of the peace and hope you brought to our boys in the muddy trenches dreaming of their families and homes in England seventy years ago. Many people are loved by family and friends but few by a nation who will never forget you and your works. Your friend, Bill x" William Forde : March 19th, 2017.
youtu.be/OvgM_xcx2GI
