Simon Vaughan

I’m sure many members of Tech Ops will have their own memories of Dame Vera who has sadly died (18th June 2020) at the age of 103.

It was a pleasure to spend an afternoon with the lady herself at her home in Ditchling, just after she celebrated her 99th Birthday.  Over tea and buns we discussed her appearance on BBC Television in August 1938, and some of her television appearances over the years.  Sadly she became quite deaf in recent years – “all that singing with loud orchestras dear”! 

Her first appearance on television was on 13th April 1938, with Ambrose and his Orchestra.  She performed alongside Evelyn Dall and Max Bacon.  She became quite a regular on pre-war television, clocking up 14 performances over 12 months.  Her first appearance was on 21st May 1938, with Ambrose and his Orchestra performing alongside Evelyn Dall and Max Bacon.  Her last pre-war appearance was in April 1939, as part of The Ambrose Quartet.

Here is the great lady performing on “Cabaret Cruise” in August 1938 as part of RadiOlympia, where she sang two songs “Tears In My Heart” and “Please Be Kind”.  Sadly it’s not the clearest photograph in the Desmond Campbell Collection, but a record of her performance nonetheless. 

 

Bernie Newnham

I worked on the “Vera Lynn Show” series in the 1970s, with Howard Michaels tracking and me swinging a Mole with – who? – on the front. A pleasant day in TC1.

 

Graeme Wall

I did some of those with Ian Gibb on the Mole in the TVT. Might have been the second series.

 

Paul Kay

I worked on a couple of series with Vera,

One series was in the Theatre  and another in Television Centre. Unfortunately I have none of my diaries now I destroyed them very many years ago “What a stupid thing to do Paul ” Yes I must agree!

Vera was a great artist and pleasant to work with!! RIP Vera 

 

Tim Humphries

I worked on the Vera Lynn show at the TV Theatre in Shepherds Bush in the early 1970s.

I was the most junior member of the sound crew and so was operating the foldback speaker. In those days The Young Generation dance troupe were on nearly every LE show and this was no exception. Whilst they were doing their piece Vera was standing next to me and whilst they were dancing she confided to me that she was not a dancer and wished she could dance like them. I was 20 years old at the time and was astounded that the star of the show would even consider talking to me let alone sharing her feelings about what she wished she could do. I was delighted that she spoke to me at the time and after working with dozens of TV stars in my career, never had another one start a conversation with me in that manner.

She was a truly magnificent person, a war hero and certainly deserved to live a long and happy life. I am sure she will rest in peace.

 

Dave Newbitt

I thoroughly endorse the sentiments expressed here.

I too worked on the 1971 series, usually as the boom op. My notes show dates at fortnightly intervals on a Sunday/Monday schedule beginning mid February. Hugh Barker sound mixed – what a really nice bunch of people. I have some NAB spools with bits and pieces somewhere.

My father was in the RAF in the war and was billeted for a time at Ditchling before heading off to North Africa. I took him back there for a nostalgia visit sometime in the 1970s but didn’t know at the time that Vera lived there. Mum and Dad worshipped her and would have been tickled pink.

 

Barry Bonner

I also had the great pleasure of working with Vera Lynn in 1969 along with Hugh Barker 1st. and 2nd. November in TC8 with crew 19, and  also 8th. and 9th. November in TC6.

Fond memories with lovely lady and a great team. I wonder if the BBC kept any of these?

 

David Brunt

One out of the six is missing from 1969, but it featured Rolf so no great loss.

One out of five is missing from the 1971 run. Featured Harry Secombe.

All six of the 1971/2 season are missing, and two one-offs later in 1972.

A 1973 and 1977 special survive. And six episodes of 1974.

Plus various other guest appearance on other shows survive.

 

Roger Bunce

And now [with the Covid 19 lockdowns]  “We’ll Meet Again” has become an anthem once more.

I remember Vera Lynn dancing with the Young Generation. (Was I there? Or did I just see it on Tele?) She must have been in her mid-fifties by then. She gave a momentary look of fear as they hoisted her shoulder high. But she went for it! A truly game lady.

I love the stories of her, at the peak of her wartime fame, touring air-raid shelters and munitions factories, travelling through the blitz and the blackout, on the bus or driving her Austin 7 – no chauffeur-driven limos, however big a celebrity she was! Her troop tours were her own idea, and I think she organised some of them herself. And her post-war work with ex-servicemen and other charities was magnificent. She deserved all the awards and honours she was given.

I forget the programme – but I remember seeing David Dimbleby interviewing her, on the White Cliffs of Dover – how iconic is that!?

The phrase ‘National Treasure’ is overused  but Vera Lynn is one person who has truly earned it.