Remembering Dame Vera Lynn on her 104th birthday

It will be shown on Saturday, March 20 at 4pm,

Filmed at Dame Vera’s favourite cafe, The Nutmeg Tree, in her home town of Ditchling, the D-Day Darlings offer a heartfelt and morale-building collection of popular Dame Vera Lynn songs including The White Cliffs of Dover, Now is the Hour and A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, including the Darlings’ original composition of Sweetheart, written for Dame Vera, and finishing with We’ll Meet Again to end the birthday dedication “with hope and optimism, just as the lady herself would.”

Lead Darling and ambassador of Dame Vera Lynn Children's Charity Katie Ashby will also be live from the charity centre with Dame Vera’s daughter Virginia Lewis-Jones and head of centre Glenys Creese, for a behind the scenes, virtual tour of the charity’s facilities that support many children and their families.

The event will be streamed via the D-Day Darlings Facebook page and they are asking for donations to Dame Vera Lynn Children's Charity. Click on the Just Giving page. https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/DDayDarlingsvirtualshow

Katie Ashby, lead of The D-Day Darlings, said: “I’m thrilled to be performing with the D-Day Darlings to celebrate what would have been Dame Vera’s 104th birthday in the place that was so close to her heart. The charity is an integral part of Dame Vera’s lasting legacy and, after struggling through the pandemic with most fundraising events cancelled, it’s vital that we do all we can to keep this part of her legacy alive and continue to support these special children and families with their specialist service.”

Glenys Creese, head of centre at Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity, added: “This year the charity celebrates its 20th anniversary, 20 years of support for young children who more than ever need access to services that can encourage their development. We as a charity are very grateful for all the donations we receive. All the money raised really does go directly to supporting children and their families.”

Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity is dedicated to supporting families with children under five years old with cerebral palsy and other motor learning difficulties.

The charity provides hands-on physical therapy sessions and outreach support in the home. Its services include: small group conductive education sessions, music therapy, speech and language therapy, sensory/messy play, swimming and portage home play.

Since 2001 Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity has helped more than 700 families from across the south-east.

The charity receives no statutory funding, relying entirely on the support of the community to raise the money it needs to ensure its services can continue.