Dame Vera Lynn, 102, summons the Blitz spirit in rallying cry for Britons to ‘pull together’ and ‘weather the storm of coronavirus’
- Dame Vera referenced WWII in message for communities to ‘remain positive’
- She also released new photo smiling alongside daughter Virginia Lewis-Jones
- Urged people to ‘keep calm and follow sensible advice provided by Government’
- Dame Vera rose to fame with We’ll Meet Again in 1939 and performed to troops
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Forces sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn summoned up Britain’s Blitz spirit and called for the public to ‘pull together’ in its effort to combat the coronavirus outbreak.
Dame Vera, who is due to turn 103 years old this Friday, referenced the Second World War in a message for communities to ‘remain positive’.
Her comments accompanied a new photo of the wartime singer, who lives in a village in East Sussex, smiling alongside daughter Virginia Lewis-Jones.
Dame Vera rose to fame with the song We’ll Meet Again in 1939 and was well known for her performances to British troops stationed abroad in the Second World War.
Dame Vera Lynn (left) referenced the war in a message for communities to ‘remain positive’. Her comments accompanied a new photo of her with daughter Virginia Lewis-Jones (right)
Dame Vera (left, in the 1940s; and, right, with husband Harry Lewis in 1950, who died in 1998) rose to fame with the song We’ll Meet Again in 1939
A performer from the age of seven, she has received numerous awards for her services to entertainment and charity.
As well being made a Dame in the 1975 Birthday Honours list, Dame Vera also holds the 1939-45 War Medal and the Burma Star.
She said: ‘In these uncertain times, I am taken back to my time during World War Two, when we all pulled together and looked after each other.
‘It is this spirit that we all need to find again to weather the storm of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
‘It’s important to remain positive, keep calm and follow the sensible advice provided by the Government at this difficult time.’
Dame Vera in New York City in 1950 (left) and at Grosvenor House in London in 1949 (right)
Dame Vera was well known for her performances to British troops stationed abroad in World War Two. She is pictured with troops in Burma in 1942
She also thanked her legion of fans who had sent presents ahead of her birthday.
Dame Vera added: ‘Once again, I am overwhelmed by everyone’s kindness and generosity, and am so grateful to you all for helping me to mark this milestone.
‘I feel very fortunate to have reached 103, and my day will be made all the more special by hearing from people all around the world.
‘Thank you also for your generosity towards my Charitable Trust as I care very much about the work it does and the donations received around my birthday are the best gift imaginable.’
Today, Boris Johnson will face questions from MPs on his coronavirus strategy after the Government announced an ‘unprecedented’ £350 billion package of support to help businesses survive the crisis.
The Prime Minister and the Chancellor Rishi Sunak vowed to do ‘whatever it takes’ to buoy the economy, as the number of people thought to have Covid-19 in the UK rose to 55,000 and the death toll climbed to 71.
Measures unveiled by Mr Sunak last night included government-backed loans worth £330 billion – equivalent to 15 per cent of GDP – to help businesses which need access to cash, and a package of tax cuts and grants worth more than £20billion.
Warning that ‘never in peacetime’ had the UK ‘faced an economic fight like this one’, he also announced plans for three-month mortgage holidays for homeowners suffering outbreak-related difficulties.
The package comes after the public was told to avoid all non-essential contact and travel, while the elderly and those with underlying conditions were told they would have to stay home much more.