Latest news with #DameVeraLynn
BBC News
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Tunnels below New Brighton arcade became secret wartime factory
Even at the height of World War Two, the women who worked at New Brighton's amusement arcade turned up for their shifts as they were no longer there to sell tickets, run the stalls, or to serve seaside snacks in the they were there to toil in a secret underground factory producing millions of bullets and shell casings for the war effort. Later this year, the tunnels below the original Art Deco arcade in the Merseyside seaside resort will open to the public as a museum. The factory become so important to the war effort that, after a 1944 concert at the nearby Liverpool Empire, Dame Vera Lynn showed her appreciation for the factory's women by singing for for the Allies - including the US forces who took over the ground floor in 1943 as an ordnance base - knowledge of the factory was a closely guarded secret.A Luftwaffe aircrew bombing map, uncovered by local historian Cathy Roberts, shows that Nazi Germany was totally unaware of what was really going on inside the Wilkie arcade. "With all the shells and fuel in there, if it had been hit it would have taken out most of New Brighton," she said. The New Palace Amusement Centre, next to the Floral Pavilion, was opened by Whilma Howe "Will" Wilkie in August 1939, at a cost equivalent to nearly £1m in today's money. But within a matter of weeks, fun was the last thing on anyone's mind. On 3 September, Britain declared war on Germany, which had invaded Poland two days before. Wilkie answered the call from the government for safe and secretive places that could be used for the war effort. The 100-year-old tunnels were cleared of sand, debris and stalactites and converted into an underground munitions factory. Many of the women who had worked on the dodgem cars, shooting galleries and bagatelles went to work below ground making the arcade's manager became the factory's foreman. With more than 100 acres of tunnels, there was plenty of space in which the women could week, they made more than 250,000 bullets and as many shell cases. In 1943, the arcade building would become even more crucial to the war preparation for the Allied invasion of occupied Europe, US forces arrived in New Brighton. The ever-enterprising Wilkie once again answered the call to action, converting the ground floor of the arcade into a base for American engineers and technicians. Because the Americans' army vehicles and trucks were shipped in flat-pack form, they had to be assembled on a result, the New Brighton arcade became US Ordnance depot O_616. To make way for the US servicemen, the ground floor was cleared, with all the rides, stalls and attractions being moved out into the car park. To this day, the outdoor area is still home to fairground attractions. "Wilkie was quite canny," said Ms Roberts. "So he kept promoting the amusement arcade with press advertisements so no-one would think it was anything else." From the June 1944 D-Day landings onwards, the building continued to play a vital Army vehicles damaged on Omaha Beach during the Normandy invasion were shipped back and repaired in the arcade. And the advancing Allies relied upon the bullets and shells that were continuing to be produced by the women working in the munitions factory traces of the factory survive to this day, and the arcade remains in the Wilkie family, with Whilma's grandson David at the helm. LISTEN: Hidden Merseyside - the tunnels under New Brighton's arcade Ms Roberts and other volunteers have been working to turn it into a museum to honour and remember the efforts made by everyone who worked there during the opened to the public on Thursday's 80th anniversary of VE ticketed tour, with free entry for service personnel, was sold out. Ms Roberts said she hoped the museum would become a popular attraction when it reopens later in 2025."We always knew this place was important to the war effort," she said. "But over the years we have learned just how important it was." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
The Independent
08-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
Wartime star Dame Vera Lynn would want young people to help others
The daughter of forces sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn has stressed the importance of 'duty' for young people and said her mother would have thought it is 'very important' they help others. Dame Vera lifted troops' spirits with concerts in Egypt, India and Burma during the war in which she sang songs including The White Cliffs Of Dover and We'll Meet Again, which were heard at the Westminster Abbey service on Thursday. She died in 2020 aged 103, having had a celebrated career as a singer and entertainer that spanned more than 90 years. Her daughter Virginia Lewis-Jones was at the VE Day 80th anniversary party at the Royal Albert Hall when she spoke to the PA news agency. Asked about lessons for the younger generation, Ms Lewis-Jones told PA: 'I think that if they can learn that duty is very important, that if you can do anything to help anybody please do so. 'It doesn't matter if it's Gertrude next door who needs her shopping done or whatever, but it's very, very important for the young people to help other people as much as possible'. That is what her mother 'would have thought, and that's what I think as well', she added. The Royal Albert Hall party, presented by the SSAFA Armed Forces charity in association with the Daily Mail, heard music from the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra as well as a performance from Strictly Come Dancing star Nadiya Bychkova. Ms Lewis-Jones told PA: 'Obviously this is an extremely, extremely important day – it should always be remembered. 'Especially for the young people to remember what people sacrificed for them for today, and the freedoms that we've got now are purely due to the people that not only fought, and did a lot of other things in the background of the war, but also afterwards.' She added: '80th anniversary, you know there won't be a lot of veterans left for the next 10 years so it's a very, very important day and my mother would have reiterated that and said how important that was. 'She was very keen on young people to be able to appreciate what happened during and after the war as well.' Dame Vera worked with many charities to ensure people were aware of the events before, during and after the Second World War, Ms Lewis-Jones added. She is currently fundraising for a memorial to her mother to be installed near the White Cliffs of Dover. It will also pay tribute to other artists who travelled the world boosting moral by entertaining troops and families. Dame Vera was born March 20 1917 and started singing in working men's clubs at seven years old. During the war she captured the hearts of the nation with her uplifting musical performances and recordings. In 2017, aged 100, Dame Vera became the oldest living artist to be in the UK's album chart top 10.
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Choirs mark VE Day singing Dame Vera Lynn's White Cliffs of Dover
Choirs mark VE Day singing White Cliffs of Dover 7 minutes ago Share Save Emily Coady-Stemp BBC News, South East Share Save Buskerteers Choir The choirs will sing the song at their weekly rehearsals Members of more than 20 community choirs will mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day with a rendition of Dame Vera Lynn's wartime classic The White Cliffs of Dover. Buskerteers Choirs will perform the song at rehearsals including in Haywards Heath, Ipswich, Crawley and Brighton. Footage from across the south and east of England will be compiled into montages, to be shared by the choirs. The campaign is raising money for the Royal British Legion, supporting veterans and their families. Buskerteers Choir The performances are being added to a montage Founder Andrew Small says the choir is "incredibly proud" to be marking the anniversary with the song which he says "so beautifully captures the spirit of hope during wartime". He said: "As we aim to raise £1,000 for the Royal British Legion, we do so in heartfelt remembrance of those who made immense sacrifices for our freedom. "It's more important than ever that we come together to honour their legacy and ensure their stories are never forgotten." The song was one of several of Dame Vera Lynn's which helped raise morale during World War Two. VE Day marked the end of World War Two in Europe when huge crowds took to the streets on 8 May 1945 to sing, dance and rejoice after nearly six years of war. The Buskerteers Choir includes 28 community choirs which are open to everyone and they aim to raise £1m for charity through busking and performance. Videos will also feature choirs in Chelmsford, Cambridge, the New Forest, Bury St Edmunds and Bournemouth among others. Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.
BBC News
01-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Dame Vera Lynn statue in Dover backed by Keir Starmer
The prime minister has backed a campaign to install a Dame Vera Lynn statue near the White Cliffs of than £1m has been raised to create the memorial of the forces' sweetheart, who immortalised the famous Kent landmark in one of her Francois, an Essex MP, called on Sir Keir Starmer's support during Prime Minister's Keir said the legacy of Dame Vera, who died aged 103 in 2020, was "sewn into our nation's soul". The topic was raised in the House of Commons ahead of Victory in Europe (VE) Day commemorations on 8 Vera's songs - including We'll Meet Again, The White Cliffs of Dover and As Time Goes By - helped raise morale during World War location of her statue has been up for debate for years, but Francois, the Conservative MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, said a site in Dover had been secured."Those who fought in World War Two, including my own father, will often attest that no-one did more to maintain their morale in adversity than Dame Vera Lynn," he said. Francois praised the "doughty band of campaigners" who have been raising funds to create the statue, expected to cost about £1.5m, since 2021."I'm pleased to tell the house they now have a stunning design, they have a site - appropriately at Dover - and they've already raised over three quarters of the funding," the MP added."So, at this very special time, would the prime minister lend his support in principle to this noble endeavour?"Sir Keir responded by saying the fundraising work was "really important" and that people had been "delighted" by continued: "Dame Vera is sewn into our nation's soul by providing the soundtrack for our greatest generation."Referencing VE Day, the prime minister added: "It is particularly timely, so I will support the campaign."The Dame Vera Lynn Memorial Statue website said £350,000 was needed to complete the hoped to unveil it in a location "near the White Cliffs" in June, marking the fifth anniversary of Dame Vera's death. Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks, BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk, BBC Northamptonshire or BBC Suffolk.
