'There should be a state funeral and a memorial' - Telegraph readers pay tribute to Dame Vera Lynn
The death of Dame Vera Lynn at the age of 103 has inspired tributes from The Prime Minister, Captain Tom Moore and the Royal British Legion among many others.
The Force’s Sweetheart was fondly remembered for singing The White Cliffs Of Dover, There'll Always Be An England, I'll Be Seeing You, Wishing and If Only I Had Wings, to help raise British spirits during the Blitz.
In present times, the Queen referenced “We Will Meet Again”, one of Dame Vera’s most beloved wartime songs, in a message to the nation during the coronavirus lockdown.
Dame Vera herself encouraged the British public to "rediscover that same spirit that saw us through the war" amid the coronavirus pandemic, in a special message before she turned 103 in March.
From her embodiment of the brave spirit of wartime Britain, to her instantly recognisable singing voice, Telegraph readers have shared their tributes to the late Dame Vera Lynn. Read on for their fond memories of the Force’s Sweetheart and share your own tribute in the comments section below.
'Reminds us of how this country stood up to adversity'
@George Walker:
"A sad day. Dame Vera reminds us of how this country stood up to adversity and with the odds stacked against us, still won through.
"Sad to say I doubt many of the current younger generation realise or are taught of her great contribution."
'We should line the streets for the funeral'
@Peter Castlehouse:
"If anything should bring the nation on to the streets, it should be at the State Funeral which Dame Vera deserves without question."
'One in a million'
@Helen Glover:
"She was one in a million, a force for good and her death is our loss."
'She got buckets of fan mail to the end'
@Charles Lee:
"I live near Vera's home in Ditchling and met her several times.
"She was an absolute sweetie, without any side to her at all or any awareness of how important she was. Her secretary told me she got buckets of fan mail to the end - she was aware of how much she was loved. This kept her alive to the ripe old age she reached
"My abiding memory is of Vera pushing her own trolley in Waitrose in Burgess Hill with her knitted bobble hat on.
"At one end of the aisle a couple were gazing at her with great fondness, without disturbing her. I suppose I was doing the same.
"Only a state funeral is appropriate. A permanent statue of Vera Lynn on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square would be a wonderful thank-you from the nation to a very great lady."
'A memorial should be established'
@Butter Fly:
"How sad. It feels like an end of an (V)era! I hope a memorial will be established in recognition of this great Dame!"
'A great lady and a great Briton'
@Julie Wasson-Thompson:
"Dame Vera Lynn, a great lady and a great Briton. Her part in boosting the morale of our troops and all the people at home will never be forgotten. She was brave enough to get pretty near to the front line too, in order to reach “our boys.”
"Although I was born long after the war, I love those songs. “We’ll Meet Again” and “The White Cliffs of Dover” make me go all misty eyed. Just beautiful.
"Deepest condolences to Dame Vera’s family, on behalf of a fond and grateful nation. Bless her memory."
'She was an icon of the precious, personal things we all cherish'
@David Lowe:
"Amongst her many recordings, Vera Lynn sang "A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square". I used to walk across the square on the way to work and always used to think of that song and the times it harked back to. She was an icon, like she said, of the precious, personal things we all cherish, not ideologies and politics.
"God Bless her, and the times and the country we all cherish."
'Tissues needed'
@Peter Castlehouse:
"As a veteran of HM Forces, now living in Australia, I am proud to be part of a small group of guys who are 'presenters' on a web-based radio station for ex-forces around the world.
"I was ten minutes from finishing presenting a show (which also has a chat room for veterans to gather and share banter), when I heard this sad news. I immediately cut the track that was playing, and finished my show with three of Dame Vera's songs.
"Virtual tissues needed to be in plentiful supply. RIP Dame Vera."
'The most beautiful, radiant smile'
@Pip Squeak:
"What a wonderful lady with the most beautiful, radiant smile. One person most definitely worthy of her numerous awards and Damehood.
"RIP Dame Vera Lynn. Brings a tear to my eyes reading the lovely tributes."
'Brought a smile when confusion and isolation were commonplace'
@Dean Jukes:
"Watching my young children sing along with this great lady just a few weeks ago brought a smile when confusion and isolation were commonplace.
"Thank you Dame Vera, RIP."
