Today, 8 May, is VE Day (Victory in Europe Day).


During the Second World War, Vera Lynn, "the Forces' Sweetheart", had her own BBC radio programme "Sincerely Yours".

It was presented in the form of a letter to the boys on the fighting front, with messages from the soldiers' wives, fiancées or girlfriends and news from the home front, including congratulations with the birth of a son or daughter.

Vera Lynn also performed songs with her quartet, and the two most requested were: "We'll Meet again" and "The White Cliffs of Dover".

"We'll meet again". How did you find that?

"I sang it before the war. It was just a song that was sent to me. I rather like the lyric. That's all, that's a good song, you know, because it goes with anyone, anywhere, saying goodbye to someone or party you know. We'll meet again."

What made you choose "The White Cliffs Of Dover"?

"Because it was the last thing the boys saw when they went away, and the first thing they saw on the way back. Optimistic song, there'll be bluebirds, though we didn't have any bluebirds. It was just a symbol of happiness, a bluebird."