Residents and staff at The Royal Star & Garter Homes celebrated the 100^th birthday of the ‘Forces’ Sweetheart’, Dame Vera Lynn.

During the Second World War, she sang songs of hope and inspired brave British soldiers on the front line to be strong during hard times away from family and loved ones. Popular songs such as We’ll Meet Again and White Cliffs of Dover jog memories for many veterans, including the residents at The Royal Star & Garter Homes.

At the Surbiton Home, residents sang her legendary songs and enjoyed a presentation on Dame Vera Lynn’s life story. When asked how he felt listening to the wartime songs Gregory said: “As a child we had an old fashioned wind up record player. Around 1945 as the war was coming to an end, I can remember my grandparents and uncles encouraging me to sing Wish Me Luck as You Wave Me Goodbye. It has stayed with me over the years.”

Dame Vera Lynn devoted much time to charity work visiting troops in Burma, India, Egypt and visited families of the soldiers here in the U.K. She visited the residents at the old Richmond Home in 1970 and entertained them for over an hour, performing her wartime classics.

The residents, having lived through the War, were pleased to celebrate Dame Vera Lynn and hear more about her devoted service to the Armed Forces.

Happy 100^th Birthday, Dame Vera Lynn.