[Tech1] Fwd: Re: Memories of Dame Vera Lynn

Thu Jun 18 09:19:43 CDT 2020

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 1970’s but didn’t know at the time that Vera lived there. Mum and Dad worshipped her and would have been tickled pink.

Dave Newbitt.

From: Bernard Newnham via Tech1 
Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2020 2:52 PM
To: tech1 at tech-ops.co.uk 
Subject: [Tech1] Fwd: Re: Memories of Dame Vera Lynn

-------- Forwarded Message -------- Subject:  Re: [Tech1] Memories of Dame Vera Lynn 
      Date:  Thu, 18 Jun 2020 13:20:01 +0100 
      From:  Tim Humphries mailto:timhum001 at gmail.com 
      To:  Bernard Newnham mailto:bernie833 at gmail.com 

I worked on the Vera Lynn show at the TV Theatre in Shepherds Bush in the early '70's. 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.

On 18/06/2020 12:21, Bernard Newnham via Tech1 wrote:

  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.

  B

  On 18/06/2020 11:42, Alexandra Palace Television Society via Tech1 wrote:

    I’m sure many members of Tech Ops will have their own memories of Dame Vera who has sadly died 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.  

    Simon Vaughan

    Archivist

    for and on behalf of

    Alexandra Palace Television Society

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    The Alexandra Palace Television Society is a not-for-profit organisation, dedicated to preserving for present and future generations, the oral and written history of the pioneers who inaugurated the world's first regular public high-definition television service from Alexandra Palace, north London, in 1936.

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