There is nothing like this Dame

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

ALTHOUGH we associate Dame Vera Lynn with the Second World War she was actually born on 20 March 1917, in London's East Ham. Her father was a plumber, her mother a dressmaker and while there wasn't much wealth when she was growing up, there was a lot of music. It was her mum, after noticing her daughter's remarkable vocal talents, who pushed her on stage. 'I was all right once I was on and in full swing,' recalls Lynn, whose original surname was Welch. Lynn was her maternal grandmother's maiden name.

TINY SINGER

Vera was singing in public before her eighth birthday and would impress the crowds with rousing renditions of classics at working men's clubs ('They were great audiences.') She soon earned her reputation as the 'little belter' as, despite her small stature, she'd manage to project songs to the back of the hall. Back then there were no mics, so Lynn would sing in a higher key. 'I had to lower the tone of my voice when I started using microphones,' she points out.

NATURAL TALENT

Despite her extraordinary success, she never received formal training, although she does recall her one and only singing lesson with a wry smile. 'I went once to extend my range but was told, "No, I can't train that voice. It's not a natural voice". So I said, "Thank you very much, madam," and left.' At the age of 15, she was spotted, signed on the spot and catapulted to the fashionable world of the big band scene. The audiences warmed to her instantly, and she soon became a regular on BBC radio.

GOOD EAR

Vera couldn't read music. Instead, 'I would look at the lyrics, and if I liked the lyrics then I would listen to the tune, because I thought the lyrics were more important than the music'. In 1936, she had her first solo record, Up The Wooden Hill To Bedfordshire, and by 22 had sold more than a million records.

RADIO TIMES

When war broke out the government realised that entertainment on the home front was vital to boost morale and Vera was given her own weekly radio show called Sincerely Yours. It included her favourite songs and messages to soldiers from their sweethearts and wives back home. She married clarinet player Harry Lewis in 1941, before he was sent away to fight.

Happy 100th Birthday Dame Vera Lynn is on BBC One on Sunday.