My Bexhill memories of Dame Vera Lynn

Last Summer I was invited by Bexhill Heritage to the unveiling of the plaque at Pages Gap, which tells the poignant story of how Vera Lynn and some of her co-stars raised funds in the 1950s to construct a trackway down to the beach for disabled children who were cared for at the nearby Colwell Court.

Vera and her family were close neighbours of ours when I was growing up in Ditchling, and they were always happy to join in - popping in for coffee as they walked to the shops on a Saturday morning, swapping home-grown vegetables, and chatting as easily about showbiz life as they did about village events. Husband Harry always called me “Scruff”.

Vera regularly opened the annual Ditchling Fair, and famously contributed her “Turkey Boobs” recipe to the Ditchling Silver Jubilee CookBook in 1977.

Dame Vera was indeed an icon. At the same time, she was always thoughtful, generous, and, above all, a lady.

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