Vicky Lee - Tribute to Dame Vera Lynn

In April 2015 Vicki Lee performed a community concert at the Palmerston North Globe Theatre to commemorate 100 years since Gallipoli. Choosing the music of Dame Vera Lynn was appropriate and timely – yes, the songs are synonymous more with WW2, but they resonated so well with ‘those who remember’, that a journey began to not just share her music, but to share the context of that time, and in turn gather many, many stories from subsequent audiences right around New Zealand, both with Rotary support, a nationwide Ryman Village tour, and many independent concerts also. This has led to Vicki meeting with Dame Vera many times up until her passing in 2020. Her endorsement of Vicki’s approach has been integral to the concerts continuing, as in her words “when we sing these songs we remember those men and women who sacrificed so much”. Just before the onset of the global Covid 19 pandemic, Vicki travelled to London in January, 2020 to attend the unveiling of Dame Vera Lynn’s portrait at the Royal Albert Hall where it is permanently displayed. She accompanied Colin Thackeray (winner of Britain’s Got Talent 2019) on Sir Elton Johns red Yamaha Grand Piano in the Elgar Room. It was here where she met with historian Dr June Goodfield who was inspired to record all the stories that Vicki has gathered over these past six years, has led to an “about to be released’ book entitled “The Career That Chose Me”’ where these wonderful remembrances are collated, along with historic context by Dr Goodfield. June 18th this year marked one year since Dame Vera’s passing, and to mark this occasion the Dame Vera Lynn Memorial Fund was established for a wonderful statue of her to be designed by well-known sculptor Paul Day. This will permanently reside atop of the infamous “White Cliffs of Dover”, a place synonymous with both the song and Dame Vera’s lasting legacy. A song that Vicki had written and recorded in 2009 in honour of Sir Howard Morrison, (Irreplaceable) was chosen by Dame Vera’s family to be performed for the occasion by Katie Ashby of the “D Day Darlings” and accompanied by renowned Steinway artist Dominic Ferris. They felt the lyrics absolutely embraced this wonderful life. Further, The London Mint Office funded the song being recorded by Decca, with all download proceeds going to the building of the statue. The journey just continues...

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Email: steve@benthorseshoe.co.nz