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Forces Sweethearts

Sunday Night is Music Night salutes the forces sweethearts, as part of Radio 2's VE day anniversary celebrations

In 2017 Sunday Night is Music Night saluted the Forces Sweethearts of the Second World War on the occasion of Dame Vera Lynn's 100th birthday. As part of this weekend's VE day celebrations, here's another chance to hear this tribute.

Born on 20th March 1917 young Vera Welch gave her first performance aged just 7. She became a vocalist for many British dance bands and worked with the likes of Joe Loss, Charlie Kunz and Bert Ambrose. Then during the war Vera devoted her life to entertaining the British troops at home and abroad. She presented her own Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ radio series "Sincerely Yours". Two songs most associated with Vera are "We'll Meet Again" and "The White Cliffs of Dover" - these were two of the songs that got us through the war and did so much to raise morale during times of fear and conflict.

Tonight Sunday Night is Music Night salutes Vera and the other Forces Sweethearts - including Anne Shelton, Marlene Dietrich, Doris Day and the Andrews Sisters.

The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra conducted by Richard Balcombe perform Bridge on the River Kwai (Malcolm Arnold); the Spitfire Prelude and Fugue (William Walton) and the Dambusters March (Eric Coates). Our singing guests are Mary Carewe, Lucy Williamson, the Puppini Sisters and making a guest appearance and recalling memories of Gracie Fields - Su Pollard. The presenter is Ken Bruce.

Concert recorded 17th January 2017 at the Mermaid Theatre in London.

Producer Bridget Apps.

1 hour, 57 minutes

Last on

Sun 10 May 2020 19:00

Music Played

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra

    Friday Night Is Music Night Opening Sig Tune

    Conductor: Richard Balcombe.
  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Richard Balcombe

    MARCH: DAMBUSTERS

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Richard Balcombe & Mary Carewe

    White Cliffs Of Dover

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Richard Balcombe

    A NIGHTINGALE SANG IN BERKELEY SQUARE

  • The Puppini Sisters

    Boogie Woogie Bulge Boy

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Richard Balcombe

    The Bridge On The River Kwai

  • Lucy Williamson with The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB. Richard Balcombe

    When the Lights Go On Again

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Richard Balcombe

    SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Richard Balcombe & Mary Carewe

    LILI MARLENE

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Richard Balcombe

    Spitfire Prelude & Fugue

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Richard Balcombe

    THE GREAT ESCAPE

  • Lucy Williamson with The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB. Richard Balcombe

    (DEAR MR GABLE) YOU MADE ME LOVE YOU

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Richard Balcombe

    With A Song In My Heart

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Richard Balcombe & Mary Carewe

    Goodnight Children Everywhere

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Richard Balcombe, Su Pollard & The Rhythm Section (Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra)

    THE THING-UMMY-BOB

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Richard Balcombe

    CALLING ALL WORKERS

  • Lucy Williamson with The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB. Richard Balcombe

    WE'RE GOING TO HANG OUT THE WASHING ON THE SIEGFRIED LINE

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Richard Balcombe & Nathaniel Anderson-frank

    GOLDEN EARRINGS

  • The Puppini Sisters

    Tico Tico

  • The Puppini Sisters

    Accentuate The Positive

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Richard Balcombe

    STARDUST

  • Mary Carewe & Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Richard Balcombe

    Yours

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Richard Balcombe & Mary Carewe and ensemble

    We'll meet again

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra

    Friday Night Is Music Night Closing Sig Tune

    Conductor: Richard Balcombe.
  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra

    Dambusters March

  • Mary Carewe & Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra

    The White Cliffs of Dover

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra

    A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square

  • The Puppini Sisters

    Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra

    Bridge On The River Kwai

  • Lucy Williamson & Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra

    When The LIghts Go On Again

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra

    SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra & Mary Carewe

    LILI MARLENE

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra

    Spitfire Prelude and Fugue

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra

    The Great Escape

  • Lucy Williamson & Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra

    (Dear Mr Gable) You Made Me Love You

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra

    With A Song In My Heart

  • Mary Carewe & Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra

    Goodnight Children Everywhere

  • Su Pollard & Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra

    The Thing-Ummy Bob Song

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra

    Calling All Workers

  • Lucy Williamson & Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra

    Hang Out The Washing On The Siegfried Line

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra & Nathaniel Anderson-frank

    Golden Earrings

  • The Puppini Sisters

    Tico Tico

  • The Puppini Sisters

    Accentuate The Positive

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra

    Stardust

  • Mary Carewe & Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra

    Yours

  • Mary Carewe & Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra

    We'll Meet Again

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra

    High Adventure (Friday Night Is Music Night Sig Tune)

Broadcasts

  • Fri 24 Mar 2017 20:00
  • Fri 10 Nov 2017 20:00
  • Sun 10 May 2020 19:00