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Dame Vera Lynn: Spitfire flypast marks funeral | Dame Vera Lynn: Spitfire flypast marks funeral |
(32 minutes later) | |
Two Spitfires flew over the funeral procession of Dame Vera Lynn as family, friends and fans said goodbye to the Forces' Sweetheart. | Two Spitfires flew over the funeral procession of Dame Vera Lynn as family, friends and fans said goodbye to the Forces' Sweetheart. |
Her cortege was accompanied by the Battle of Britain flypast as it travelled through Ditchling in East Sussex at midday. | Her cortege was accompanied by the Battle of Britain flypast as it travelled through Ditchling in East Sussex at midday. |
Dame Vera died last month at the age of 103 and her funeral is being held at Woodvale Crematorium in Brighton. | Dame Vera died last month at the age of 103 and her funeral is being held at Woodvale Crematorium in Brighton. |
The World War Two fighter planes made three passes over the village. | |
Hundreds of people had gathered to await the arrival of the cortege and the crowd applauded as the aircraft flew over. | Hundreds of people had gathered to await the arrival of the cortege and the crowd applauded as the aircraft flew over. |
Representatives from the Royal British Legion stood with flags as they waited to honour Dame Vera. | Representatives from the Royal British Legion stood with flags as they waited to honour Dame Vera. |
The funeral procession stopped at the crossroads in the centre of Ditchling, where the singer lived for 50 years, to allow people to pay their respects. | The funeral procession stopped at the crossroads in the centre of Ditchling, where the singer lived for 50 years, to allow people to pay their respects. |
Later, as the procession made its way out of the village, there were shouts of "hip hip hooray" from the crowd. | |
The cheers were followed by a spontaneous rendition of We'll Meet Again, one of the songs Dame Vera was well-known for. | The cheers were followed by a spontaneous rendition of We'll Meet Again, one of the songs Dame Vera was well-known for. |
A private service at the crematorium chapel is expected to include a bugler from the Royal Marines providing music. | A private service at the crematorium chapel is expected to include a bugler from the Royal Marines providing music. |
The family said a full memorial service would be held at a later date. | The family said a full memorial service would be held at a later date. |
Dame Vera's daughter, Virginia Lewis-Jones, said Ditchling had always been special to her mother. | Dame Vera's daughter, Virginia Lewis-Jones, said Ditchling had always been special to her mother. |
"That is why we know she would be touched that so many people want to pay their respects," she said. | "That is why we know she would be touched that so many people want to pay their respects," she said. |
She also urged people to continue to back the causes that were important to her mother, adding: "We are sure her music will endure forever but most importantly, we hope that people will continue to support those charities that she cared about so much. | She also urged people to continue to back the causes that were important to her mother, adding: "We are sure her music will endure forever but most importantly, we hope that people will continue to support those charities that she cared about so much. |
"It means so much to us to see my mother's legacy living on." | "It means so much to us to see my mother's legacy living on." |
At the scene | At the scene |
By Peter Whittlesea, BBC News | |
Every lamppost in the narrow streets of Ditchling bears a large poppy. | Every lamppost in the narrow streets of Ditchling bears a large poppy. |
Union flags flutter in the breeze and shop windows display portraits of the woman who became known as the Forces' Sweetheart. | Union flags flutter in the breeze and shop windows display portraits of the woman who became known as the Forces' Sweetheart. |
Camera crews and photographers have descended on the village along with servicemen and women who have come to pay their respects. | Camera crews and photographers have descended on the village along with servicemen and women who have come to pay their respects. |
It is a fond farewell for Dame Vera. | It is a fond farewell for Dame Vera. |
A picture of Dame Vera and a video were projected on to Dover's white cliffs ahead of her funeral. | A picture of Dame Vera and a video were projected on to Dover's white cliffs ahead of her funeral. |
The lyrics of We'll Meet Again appeared as the music was played across the English Channel. | The lyrics of We'll Meet Again appeared as the music was played across the English Channel. |
The projection on the 350ft cliffs was visible to ships and planes and could also be seen from the main road and some back gardens. | The projection on the 350ft cliffs was visible to ships and planes and could also be seen from the main road and some back gardens. |
The singer was best known for performing hits such as We'll Meet Again to troops on the front line. | The singer was best known for performing hits such as We'll Meet Again to troops on the front line. |
Dame Vera, who had sold more than a million records by the age of 22, was also remembered for singing The White Cliffs Of Dover, There'll Always Be An England, I'll Be Seeing You, Wishing and If Only I Had Wings. | Dame Vera, who had sold more than a million records by the age of 22, was also remembered for singing The White Cliffs Of Dover, There'll Always Be An England, I'll Be Seeing You, Wishing and If Only I Had Wings. |