I'm backing the campaign to erect a memorial honouring forces’ sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn, who famously sang 'We’ll Meet Again' and 'The White Cliffs of Dover' during World War Two.
I've joined almost 100 colleagues, led by Dover MP Natalie Elphicke, in writing to the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak calling for the government to provide funding to complete the memorial.
With only three out of every 100 statues commemorating women, the memorial would make an important difference and honour one of the country’s finest and best loved citizens who died in 2020 aged 103.
Dame Vera Lynn was a courageous and much-loved part of our country’s story through the Second World War years and into the 21st century and I think the government should step up and ensure a fitting memorial to the forces’ sweetheart is completed.
I am not just happy but honoured to put my name to this call. Dame Vera epitomised everything good about Britain and about the Finest Generation who fought for our freedom against the dark forces of fascism 80 years ago.
The singer made an enormous contribution to the country’s morale in the Second World War touring many theatres of operations across the world, including Burma, India and Egypt to entertain troops and boost morale.
Post-war she never forgot those servicemen and women and she worked tirelessly in charity work for forces charities, disabled children and breast cancer.
Funds have been raised for the memorial but taxpayers’ money will be needed to complete the project.
