On Monday, September 18, the Torch Theatre will welcome the award-winning Vera Lynn tribute ‘Sincerely Yours - The Vera Lynn Story’, a journey through the career of Vera Lynn, the most famous lady of WW2, the forces’ sweetheart, who captured the hearts of a nation.

‘Sincerely Yours - The Vera Lynn Story’ marks Dame Vera Lynn’s centenary year and features many of the songs she would have sung in the dance halls whilst performing with the likes of Joe Loss and his orchestra through to the blockbuster hits, which propelled her to international stardom including of course ‘White Cliffs of Dover’, ‘A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square’ and the timeless classic, ‘We’ll Meet Again’. The show will also feature video footage from the 1940s as well as some personal memories from Dame Vera herself.

The role of Vera Lynn will be performed by Lorrie Brown who has worked with many top names including Danny La Rue OBE, Vince Hill, Jimmy Cricket and The Bachelors. Lorrie Brown has been performing a tribute show to Dame Vera Lynn for over 25 years and in 2013 she was honoured for her achievement by the Agents Association and named UK’s No.1 Vera Lynn tribute.

After Dame Vera heard of Lorrie’s award, she invited Lorrie to meet her at her home. Lorrie says, “It was both a dream and terrifying, I have been performing the songs of this great lady for over 25 years, I have performed in football stadiums to 33,000 people and sang in some of the country’s finest theatres but this was the most nervous I have ever been. In the end, she was a perfect host. As soon as I entered the room she gave me a hug and congratulated me on my award. She was just so happy that I was keeping her music alive. We sat and talked for 3 hours about her time entertaining the troops and especially about her time in Burma, she had a very strong connection with the troops in Burma and she was so proud to have been allowed to go out and entertain them.”

Lorrie devised the show ‘Sincerely Yours - The Vera Lynn Story’ with her husband and co-producer Gary Birtles. As Lorrie explains, “2017 is Dame Vera’s 100th birthday and the nation is going to be honouring all her achievements from her life. During my show, we talk about the work she did during WW2 so the next logical step was to tell people about her life and what shaped her into becoming the forces’ sweetheart. She started her career singing in the dance bands and that is where we will start. We will be performing on stage with a live band and singing many of the songs she would have sung in her early days, then moving on to her time entertaining the troops and hosting her own radio show ‘Sincerely Yours’, which is where the title of the show comes from. Dame Vera had many hits so we will try and get as many in the show as possible all with that live band sound. Also on the bill will be support by another wartime favourite, George Formby performed by one of the country’s leading tribute acts”.

Lorrie will be backed by a live dance band to recreate the sound and style of Vera Lynn’s early years.

Also in support will be tributes to other 1940s legends including George Formby, Max Miller and a special tribute to acts from the great war, Harry Lauder and Marie Lloyd. The show is held together by its very own air raid warden/compere, Mr Braithwaite.

A show not to be missed if you’re a fan of pure nostalgia, ‘Sincerely Yours - The Vera Lynn Story’ is on at The Torch Theatre on Monday 18 September at 2.30pm. Standard ticket price is £14.00. For more information call our Box Office on 01646 695267 or visit www.torchtheatre.co.uk to book.