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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Roscoe on 18 Jun, 2020, 11:00:16 am

Title: Dame Vera Lynn
Post by: Roscoe on 18 Jun, 2020, 11:00:16 am

She had died aged 103.  So sad, but she will serenading all the troops again wherever they are now.

Title: Re: Dame Vera Lynn
Post by: JessicaH on 18 Jun, 2020, 11:36:42 am

A wonderful lady who lived a blemish free life. RIP.

Title: Re: Dame Vera Lynn
Post by: frankie on 18 Jun, 2020, 11:57:04 am

A much loved Lady throughout WW11.  Anyone left now from that time will remember her fondly for the PR she did during the dark days  of war.
I can remember my parents saying she earned respect for the fact she did not jump ship and go abroad and safety like Gracie Fields did.

Title: Re: Dame Vera Lynn
Post by: olly on 18 Jun, 2020, 03:34:42 pm

 I thought Gracie went to recuperate in Capri after she suffered a mental breakdown Frankie.
 After which she met and married her husband.
 I know that she paid for all the bus fares of any serviceman/woman to travel within the boundaries of Rochdale, her home town.

Title: Re: Dame Vera Lynn
Post by: frankie on 19 Jun, 2020, 03:44:34 pm

You could be right Olly but I do know my mother always said she fled the bombing and Vera Lynn stayed.

Title: Re: Dame Vera Lynn
Post by: JessicaH on 19 Jun, 2020, 05:05:46 pm

Frankie, that appears to have been the popular conception then especially as her 2nd husband, Monty Banks who she married in 1940, was an Italian by birth.
Indeed she was very unpopular until sometime after the war when she sang this song  “Take me to your Hearts Again“ and the very forgiving Brits, seeing it as an apology, of sorts,  mellowed towards her.

Title: Re: Dame Vera Lynn
Post by: frankie on 19 Jun, 2020, 06:56:46 pm

My Mother didn't!, JessicaH!! :huh:

Title: Re: Dame Vera Lynn
Post by: olly on 19 Jun, 2020, 07:29:13 pm

 Being an old Rochdalian, like Gracie, I only know what history from Rochdale tells us Frankie.
But you never know, maybe your Mum had it right.

Title: Re: Dame Vera Lynn
Post by: frankie on 20 Jun, 2020, 01:04:16 pm

I guess we will never really know, Olly. :dunno:

Title: Re: Dame Vera Lynn
Post by: Drax on 20 Jun, 2020, 01:28:07 pm

Perhaps the Wikipedia entry for Gracie might help you out a little bit?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gracie_Fields#World_War_II

 :tiphat:

Title: Re: Dame Vera Lynn
Post by: frankie on 20 Jun, 2020, 07:07:31 pm

Thanks Drax.  That's a very interesting read!  I did not know she had been married 3 times or that she'd had cancer (at a time long before some of today's knowledge of the disease).