Stephen Dixon has shared fond memories of his interview with Dame Vera Lynn amid growing support for a memorial to honour the wartime singer.
“I had the great privilege of interviewing her once,” Stephen recalled. “What a woman. I mean, she really is the nation’s sweetheart.”
The GB News presenter described Dame Vera as “an incredible woman” as he voiced support for the campaign to create a lasting tribute to the Forces’ Sweetheart.
His comments come as fundraising efforts continue for a memorial statue near the iconic White Cliffs of Dover.
Stephen Dixon said: “Now, when you think back to the war, one of the things you remember, and I had the great privilege of interviewing her once, is Dame Vera Lynn.
“What a woman. I mean, she really is the nation’s sweetheart. I mean, she was an incredible woman. And the acclaimed sculptor Paul Day has created a breathtaking three-metre tableau to commemorate Dame Vera. And it’s destined to overlook the white cliffs of Dover.
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“Oh, it’d just be beautiful, wouldn’t it? Well, this comes after the late Sir David Amos launched an appeal to create a lasting memorial to honour the force’s sweetheart, shortly before he died in 2021.
“However, the memorial is currently, believe it or not, in the Czech Republic.”
Close friend of Dame Vera Lynn, Susan Fleet, told GB News: “I hope that we can reach our goal. Well, if we can’t do it at this time, then we never can, to be frank.
“I mean, it is VE Day today. In fact, I must tell you, Dame Vera was flying back from Burma on VE Day, and apparently they had a glass of champagne in the air.
“If we can’t do it now, then when can we do it? We’ve been appealing for the last four years for funds.
“We’ve been very successful. We’ve raised 1.15 million. But we need this final amount to get us across the final finishing line.”
According to the Dame Vera Lynn Memorial Statue website, £350,000 is still needed to complete the memorial and bring it to its intended location.
Dame Vera became a symbol of freedom for troops during World War Two, with her songs providing hope in their darkest hours.
Her hits, including “We’ll Meet Again”, “The White Cliffs of Dover” and “There’ll Always Be An England” boosted morale both at home and abroad. Organisers hope to unveil the memorial in June, marking the fifth anniversary of Dame Vera’s death.
The timing coincides with the 80th anniversary of VE Day, making the tribute particularly poignant.
Dame Vera’s music resonated again during the coronavirus pandemic, with the Queen using her words to inspire Britain.
“We’ll Meet Again” became a lockdown anthem, entering the singles charts with profits going to the NHS.