Newham Voices reporter Neandra Etienne was invited to Westminster Abbey to celebrate the life of Dame Vera Lynn who died in June 2020

Dame Vera Lynn’s family, friends, members of the Armed Forces, actors and representatives from the Royal family and her charities came together in a service of Thanksgiving held at Westminster Abbey (21 March).

When attendees arrived they were greeted with the sounds of The Central Band of the Royal British Legion. The service was conducted by the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, Dean of Westminster.

TV Gardening Presenter Alan Titchmarsh MBE gave a personal account of a meeting he had with Dame Vera. Jonathan Dimbleby, historian, TV and radio broadcaster, reflected on her work with the Armed Forces and Sir Tim Rice did a reading from Corinthians.

Actors Christopher Kenneth Biggins and Vicki Michelle ©Neandra Etienne

Wartime group and Britain’s Got Talent 2018 finalists Katie Ashby and The D-Day Darlings filled the Abbey with their rendition of The White Cliffs of Dover, a song associated with Dame Vera. Kathrine Jenkins performed Dame Vera’s most iconic song We’ll Meet Again.

Armed Forces outside Westminster Abbey *©Neandra Etienne*

Susan Fleet, a dear friend to Dame Vera, read the poem Goodnight Sweetheart by Michael Claughton.

Dame Vera’s connection to East Ham was mentioned during the service, in particular when she performed at the East Ham Working Men’s Social Club at the age of seven.

At the end of the service, Dame Vera’s daughter Virginia Lewis-Jones spent time with the attendees as they left Westminster Abbey. She told Newham Voices:

“All I can say is that the Service was fantastic, and with all the wonderful input from the Abbey and also from us, we were thrilled to bits. Everyone read beautifully and obviously with great heart. We can’t thank the Dean enough for inviting us to use it for my Mother’s Thanksgiving Service, Rev. Bob Lathan for setting out the Service with our requests for particular readers and music, and to Lorraine Rossdale for her wonderful hard work and huge help. Also of course to thank hugely Susan Fleet for her really hard work with Lorraine in sorting out who was sitting where and for all the invitations.”

Dame Vera Lynn (20 March 1917 – 18 June 2020)

dvlcc.org.uk

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