On 20 March, singer Dame Vera Lynn will be 100 years old.

She was born in East Ham, London and began performing at the age of 7. She made her first radio broadcast with the BBC in 1935, singing with the Joe Loss Band. By 1937. she had moved to Bert Ambrose’s Dance Band and made her famous recording of ” We”ll Meet Again” in 1939- just before WW2 began. A “Daily Exprerss” poll voted her the servicemen’s top vocalist and she became for evermore ” the Forces’ Sweetheart”.

Vera made seven appearances at the Hippodrome, beginning in the week of 30 January, 1939, together with the Ambrose Octette and top comedian Jimmy James.Scoring a big hit, two months later she was back.

In February, 1941, in the darkest days of the war, she topped a variety bill with comedy duo Jimmy Jewel and Ben Warriss, performing at the early times of 13.30 and 15.45 in order for the audiences to get home safely before the blackout and any air raids. There was also a Saturday matinee at 11.00am.

Vera returned in 1943,1944 and twice in 1945. These appearances were fitted in between her tours abroad to servicemen in Egypt, India and Burma; she was awarded the Burma Star for singing to British guerilla units in Japanese occupied territory. A very brave artist!

Vera’s last Hiippodrome appearance was in June, 1949, when she shared the bill with the very sophisticated Western Brothers and the less sophisticated Olsen’s Sea Lions!

Many congratulations to a national treasure – Dame Vera Lynn, everybody’s sweetheart.