The Mail is very proud to offer this first glimpse of the completed memorial to a woman who captured the essence of what her generation were fighting for.
A worried family are glued to the wireless, waiting for a tune or a message to lift the spirits. A group of servicemen –among them a chap in bandages, another still in his flying kit – cluster around a piano, joined by half a dozen women in uniform. They are briefly escaping the horrors of war with a sing-song.
Dame Vera Lynn in 1956. Her repertoire of songs, at one point, saw her outselling the superstars of the day, including Bing Crosby The level of detail is astounding, as I discover while visiting Day's studio in Burgundy to see how this has all come about. The entire piece is composed in a circular style known as a 'tondo' .
Three years in the making, the memorial has involved meticulous research. The family scene, for example, was inspired by Vera's wartime radio show, Sincerely Yours, during which she would read out letters from families to loved ones who were serving overseas. 'Vera never forgot them and went out to sing to them,' says Day. 'In fact, there is one account of her singing so close to the front line that the Japanese could actually hear her.'
This late rejuvenation of her career was a direct result of the late Queen's historic address in April 2020 to a locked-down nation in the darkest days of another national crisis – Covid. Her Majesty, famously, concluded by echoing Vera's most famous line as she signed off: 'We will meet again.' A few months after that great accolade, on June 18, 2020, Vera died at her home in East Sussex.
However, the campaign to get this memorial finished has been beset with problems and also tragedy. In 2021, it lost its prime mover when Sir David was murdered by a terrorist. Along the way, the fundraising process has proved much harder than expected in the present economic climate. The trustees were greatly cheered by a substantial six-figure donation from a generous admirer of Sir David Amess as well as the generosity of numerous Daily Mail readers. However, this great endeavour is still going to require at least another £1million to get the show on the road. And that is where you come in.
The Chancellor has yet to reply. In the meantime, start getting dressed for a great night out on April 19. Never cowed by danger, Vera kept spirits raised; she sang to people on Tube station platforms during air raids; uplifting the world with We'll Meet Again and The White Cliffs of Dover. Her songs promised a brighter future – we could certainly do with her optimism right now…
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