Dame Vera Lynn funeral: Tributes & a flypast for the Forces' Sweetheart
The funeral of Dame Vera Lynn, one of Britain’s most famous singers, has taken place in Sussex today. Dame Vera died on the 18th of June at the age of 103.
The singer came to prominence during World War Two as she entertained the troops and became known as the Forces’ Sweetheart.
Second World War fighter planes paid tribute at midday in a flypast over the village of Ditchling where Dame Vera had lived for a number of decades. Hundreds of people turned out to say farewell. The WWII aircraft – a Spitfire and a Hurricane flown by members of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight display team, made three passes in the skies above, as the crowd below gave a round of applause.
Watch a report from Malcolm Shaw
Reverend David Wallace, the Vicar of Ditchling, who conducted the funeral service paid tribute to Dame Vera, saying she would be greatly missed.
Dame Vera Lynn’s coffin was draped in a Union flag. It arrived in the centre of Ditchling as the church bells tolled. Hundreds of people gathered at the village crossroads ahead of a procession which was led by soldiers.
Representatives from the Royal British Legion stood in the road with flags, waiting to honour Dame Vera Lynn as the funeral procession drove by.
There was a small contingent of police officers on hand to make sure that proceedings went smoothly. The funeral cortege went from Ditchling to the crematorium in Brighton, with the crowds gathered in the streets shouting ‘Hip hip hooray’ as it passed by. People were also singing one of Dame Vera’s most famous songs, ‘We’ll Meet Again’.
The Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity, which works with children up to 5-years-old who have cerebral palsy and other motor learning impairments, said she was a very special person.
Earlier, on the eve of the funeral, Dame Vera Lynn’s daughter Virginia Lewis-Jones, thanked the public for their support since her mother’s death.
Another tribute came from Avril Gaynor, who said that she first met Dame Vera Lynn at the age of 10 when she became friends with Dame Vera’s daughter, Virginia, and went to the family home for tea.
Watch a report by Rachel Hepworth about Dame Vera Lynn's life and work.
While Dame Vera Lynn's funeral was a private ceremony, a memorial service in her honour will take place at a later date.