LIDO, 1 the charts all those years ago with

VERSION We’ll Meet Again, became the forces’ sweetheart — though I Ver a Ly nn never thought myself particularly The original “forces’ sweetheart” on good-looking — and travelled to the mosquito-infested jungles of surviving the Blitz and topping the charts Burma to entertain the troops fighting the apanese.J Was I really

REPR that brave? I wonder.

O OP Then I look around at all the ame Vera, 102, was born Great War was still raging and mementoes of my life dotted Din East Ham, London. women hadn’t even got the vote. around the room: the pictures of She made her name singing the I never thought I’d live to such a my late musician husband, Harry wartime classic We’ll Meet grand old age, and driving through [who died in 1998], the honorary Again in 1939 and performing the darkened streets of London in Burma Star I was awarded and the SUBS for the troops, for which she the Blitz, when bombs were falling photographs of the Queen Mother became known as the forces’ all around, I sometimes wondered and me — and it all comes flooding sweetheart. In 1952 she became whether I’d make it through the back. I remember our simple, 1941 the first British artist to top the war. I was one of the lucky ones. wartime wedding, the way my US charts with Auf Wiederseh’n, I’ve also been blessed with good lipstick ran in the tropical heat, Sweetheart, and in 2009, aged genes: my dear brother, Roger, died and the jokes that Her Majesty 92, became the oldest living on the eve of his 103rd birthday. and I shared at events we attended A RT artist to have a No 1 album in After doing my morning together. Having lived through the UK. She lives in Sussex stretches, I’ll have cereal, toast and the war, we formed a special bond. with her daughter, Virginia, a cup of tea for breakfast before I’ve never had a big appetite, as and son-in-law, Tom. adjourning to the living room. It you can see from my slender figure looks out onto our lovely back in old photographs, and I usually I might be of a certain garden with its still-green lawn, have a light lunch. In the summer

PR vintage, but every swimming pool and brightly I’ll have cheese and crackers, and

ODUCTION morning when I get coloured flowers. I love to breathe in the winter a homemade soup. up around 8.30 I look forward to in the sights and sounds of nature: In the afternoon I might relax by the day ahead. I’ve always been a the little things in life give you so watching Antiques Roadshow or glass-half-full person, and still am. much pleasure in your latter years. a whodunnit like Midsomer When I was born [in 1917], King Time is a funny thing and I Murders or Agatha Raisin or a George V was on the throne, Lloyd sometimes find it hard to believe repeat of Morse. I’ve always loved

CLIENT George was prime minister, the that it was really me who topped a good murder-mystery. One of the day’s highlights is afternoon tea with Virginia, Tom, any visiting

A Life in the Day the in Life A friends and our cheeky little Jack Russell terrier, Digby, who likes lemon drizzle cake almost as much as I do. “Sit,” I tell him, and he waits patiently until he gets his ration. The three of us usually sit down for dinner at about 7.30pm. I cut out meat from my diet several years ago, but still love the occasional Dover sole. The one thing I miss is a glass of bubbly, but that had to go — doctor’s orders. Occasionally we’ll play music in the evening, Words of perhaps even some of my old hits. I Wisdom gave up performing publicly some years ago — every singer needs to Best advice know when to bow out gracefully i Was given — but I’ll still hum along. When I can’t remember you’ve been a singer all your life, anyone giving me any your love of music never dies. I’m good advice! usually tucked up in bed by 10.30pm and very often drift off advice i’d give thinking about Harry. I Stick to your guns still miss him, even after all these years n What i Wish Interview by York Membery i’d knoWn To donate to the Dame Vera Lynn That it sometimes Children’s Charity, visit dvlcc.org. pays to ignore the uk. Her book Keep Smiling Through

advice you’re given STAR OF THE CENTURY Dame Vera on her 100th birthday is out now (Arrow £7.99) PA

74 • The Sunday Times Magazine

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