C792 Media Guide for Radio, Television & Modern Life

Short Bio

Dame Vera Lynn, DBE (born Vera Margaret Welch on 20 March 1917), widely known as "The Forces' Sweetheart" is an English singer, songwriter and actress whose musical recordings and performances were enormously popular during the Second World War. In 1941 Lynn married Harry Lewis. They had one child, Virginia Penelope Anne Lewis. She has devoted much time and energy to charity work connected with ex-servicemen, disabled children, and breast cancer. Lynn was appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1969 and promoted to Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1998. She is still held in great affection by veterans of the Second World War.

 

Career

In 1939, during the Phoney War, the Daily Express asked British servicemen to name their favourite musical performers: Vera Lynn came out on top. She is best known for her 1942 recording of the popular song "We'll Meet Again", written by Ross Parker and Hughie Charles; the nostalgic lyrics were very popular during the war and made the song one of its emblematic hits. She also appeared in the 1943 film of that name. She hosted her own variety series on BBC1 in the late 1960s and early 1970s and was a frequent guest on other variety shows. On her 97th birthday, Lynn announced that she was releasing a new album Vera Lynn: National Treasure - The Ultimate Collection. The album will be released on 2 June, to mark the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings, which occurs four days later.

 

Key Facts

In 2000, she was named the Briton who best exemplified the spirit of the twentieth century. In 2009 she became the oldest living artist to make it to No. 1 on the British album chart, at the age of 92. Lynn is also notable for being the only artist to have a chart span on the British single and album charts reaching from the chart's inception to the 21st century — in 1952 having three singles in the first ever singles chart, complied by New Musical Express, and most recently having a #1 album with We'll Meet Again — The Very Best Of Vera Lynn.