Forum Topic

Farewell to Dame Vera

Not just the force's sweetheart but the whole country's.

James Petri ● 2329d27 Comments

Agreed - a sad loss. 103!

Brian Coyle ● 2329d

Absolutely, James.If they could give Mrs Thatcher a State Funeral (they did, didn't they?) then this great and gracious lady surely deserves one.Other than the Queen, there is now no lady of her stature left, except for my mother.

Roger Talbot ● 2329d

A really remarkable lady who will never be forgotten and she even managed to live for 103 years.However her spirit remains with us and she can now rest in peace.

Rima Jones ● 2329d

I've not met your mother Roger but I'm sure you're right. The family will decide the funeral I expect but I hope they'll be offered something befitting her standing: the people will expect it.

James Petri ● 2329d

Vera gave the best and deserves the best send off.

Janice Evans ● 2329d

Dame Vera RIP. We'll Meet Again was an inspiration in a time of need. Please look at this version performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra for the 75th Anniversary of VE Day, and it has a Chiswick resident in the Choirhttps://youtu.be/LKaVeGzNpsc

Loraine Pemberton ● 2329d

The Queen and the people will insist on a State funeral with the armed forces in full attendance.

Rima Jones ● 2329d

Thatcher didn't have a state funeral.

Susan Kelly ● 2329d

Thankyou, Susan! Won't make that mistake again.

Roger Talbot ● 2329d

'If they could give Mrs Thatcher a State Funeral (they did, didn't they?) then this great and gracious lady surely deserves one.Other than the Queen, there is now no lady of her stature left, except for my mother.'Leaving aside your Mum who I am sure is delightful, do you think that there will be an offer for Dame Vera to  be laid to rest in Westminster Abbey?

Vanessa Smith ● 2328d

I doubt that there is anyone in the Establishment who would even think about arranging a State Funeral for the great lady, Vanessa, let alone finding a place for her in Westminster Abbey,

Roger Talbot ● 2328d

"I doubt that there is anyone in the Establishment who would even think about arranging a State Funeral for the great lady, Vanessa, let alone finding a place for her in Westminster Abbey"Roger, you might be pleasantly surprised to learn that many in the establishment loved her. Have a read of the tributes that are coming in. I'm not sure who decides state funerals and burials in Westminster Abbey but I expect there are strict protocols about such matters that are beyend even most of the establishment.

James Petri ● 2328d

I have absolutely no doubt that many in the Establishment loved her James, but if the strict protocols are beyond someone in the Establishment then who the hell does control the strict protocols? I think we should be told.

Roger Talbot ● 2328d

I'm far angrier and upset that a 13 day old, otherwise healthy baby lost its life to covid-19 yesterday, than I am about Vera Lynn dying at 103, if I'm honest.Boris Johnson is a buffoon who had led this country down a path to disaster.

Chris Davies ● 2328d

I'm over 60 and have no recollection of her performing.Other than "we'll meet again" what did she do?Gracie Fields - now she was a real star.

Will Watson ● 2328d

Oh God help us from people like Will. You didn't grow up in the war years so shut up.

Claire Moran ● 2328d

Please educate me.What was it like growing up during the war?Did you enjoy Dame Vera on the wireless?

Will Watson ● 2328d

Please, let's not have a classic ChiswickW4 punch-up over Dame Vera's death. She was loved and respected by a lot of people, she had a good innings, and news of her death gave many people pause for reflection and the chance to express perfectly understandable sadness over her loss. And Chris, none of this means that we don't feel anger and indignation over other completely unrelated matters of current importance. One emotional experience doesn't abnegate or invalidate all others.

Colin Jordan ● 2328d

Agreed Colin, but punch-ups wouldn’t happen if some people were a little less touchy.  On a thread like this there are bound to be a few outliers - just let them be.  We can’t all be expected to worship at exactly the same church in exactly the same way.  Life, and this forum, would be very dull if we did.

Alastair Banton ● 2328d

I too was born after the war - and I was talking to my sons yesterday - who certainly knew who Dame Vera was - about what these songs must have meant to people living through that horror, something very few of us can imagine. This is not about what's most important in the great scheme of things, it is about respect for someone who cared, and who obviously bought a lot of hope and comfort to a hell of a lot of people in very dark times. That's something we are never, ever, likely to say of our current government in what is this generation's darkest hour.

Vanessa Smith ● 2328d

Why bring the government into it,

Janice Evans ● 2328d

Totally agree with you there Alastair.  Totally agree also with Colin.  Which is why I'm on a forum sabbatical:-  far too many opinionated gormless twits like Chris floating free, pretentiously claiming sole ownership of all the political high moral ground on thread after thread.. Grrrr..Then Vera has to go and snuff it.So here I am (just  for a few minutes) .. I'm a sucker for nostalgia:-  Particularly the 20's 30's and 40's.  A sucker for Hollywood cinema particularly Busby Berkeley, for 30's art (I collect art deco masks and statuettes)  and obviously plenty of the music...Al Bowlly, Hutch, Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Ruth Etting, Gracie Fields (a great great uncle wrote the lyrics to “Sally”),  Al Jolson, Etta Moten, Piaf..  the list goes on and on...  plus, of course, Britain's very own Vera Lynn...She caught the mood of the war.  Good and proper.  Some of the twerps at Broadcasting House initially wanted her off-air, suspecting she'd destroy public morale.  Hah!  As the war showed (and plenty of this Covid tragedy) the British public (minus a good few) are generally made of far sterner stuff.A little reminder of two favourites, on a par with her signature song “I'll Be Seeing You”..“When The Lights Go On Again”  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oevdsxNyto Like all songs with legs, these lyrics hit all the right buttons of London in 1943.  With echoes of Grey's famous WW1 speech about the lamps going out all over Europe plus far closer  memories of the terrifying London Blitz.  Whatta great song!And then  “I'll Be Seeing You”.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tsfbp5aEAQE&list=RDTsfbp5aEAQE&start_radio=1&t=7 Unmissable.  As passionate a cover as covers go.  Completely different to the great Billie Holiday version.  So don't even compare the two.  Both memorable.  Both fabulous...Hope one or two of you enjoy....Cheers Vera...Many thanks.

Stuart Kerr ● 2328d

'Why bring the government into it,'It was already part of the conversation in other posts.

Vanessa Smith ● 2328d

In past tense, yes.

Janice Evans ● 2328d

Not for the first time - I don't understand your reply.

Vanessa Smith ● 2328d

Never mind,

Janice Evans ● 2327d

Not a squeak yet from the Great and the Good that make up the Establishment, Vanessa. But since they have always been a bunch of self-serving chancers concerned only with feathering their own nests it wouldn't occur to any of the ignorant bastards to insist on a ceremony of national remembrance and respect to a lady who was a Truly Great Brit who will be revered as a national icon long after they're gone.

Roger Talbot ● 2325d