A tribute to Dame Vera Lynn

Around 100,000 people live in Lewes District and as chair of the District Council may I offer, on behalf of us all, a tribute to Dame Vera Lynn.

The warmth of feeling expressed in national and local TV, radio and newspapers has captured so well her remarkable ability to transform times of conflict, darkness and danger into encouragement, hope and inspiration. The sheer physical and emotional effort of the wartime concerts must have been enormous but as a result countless thousands serving their country were uplifted. She truly took the fight to those brutal Fascist regimes that sought to enslave the world – but in her own way! Of course her giving didn’t end in 1945; Dame Vera continued to use her voice and personality to enormous good effect until the end of her days; including transforming the lives of children with cerebral palsy through her charity.

Dame Vera strengthened communities wherever she went and that certainly applied to her home village of Ditchling and to all who came into contact with her.

We send our deep felt and wholehearted condolences to her family.