Vera Lynn Planning To Retire Next Year

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28679, 1 September 1958, Page 2

Vera Lynn Planning To Retire Next Year

« IBv SUSAN VAUGHAN!

LONDON. Vera Lynn, known as the “Forces' Sweetheart” during the Second World War and the most popular singer in Britain at that time, is planning to retire after more than 30 years in show business. She expects to finish her career in about a year’s time, just a quarter of a century after she cut her first disc at the age of 17. Miss Lynn’s first records sold at 6d each. Now, at more than 10 times the price, all her discs sell at least 35,000 copies. Some have sold millions. Bom Vera Welch, she changed her name to Lynn at the age of 11 —four years after she had earned her first fee at a concert. Her father was a docker and later a plumber’s mate; her mother worked as a dressmaker. Every Penny Needed In those lean years, little Vera sang in men’s clubs and public houses in London for fees of 7s 6d. ’Every penny was needed to help the family budget. Now she has enough money to live in extremely comfortable retirement for life. She learned the value of money the hard way and always saved carefully. To teach her 12-year-old daughter, Virginia, the same lesson, she has insisted that half of her pocket-money—2s a week—should go in National Savings. Vera reached the peak of her fame during the last war.. Her records, radio and music-hall work was bringing in £35,000 a When the war ended, Vera felt tired of show business. So she retired to look after her baby and help manage the 100-acre farm she has bought in Sussex. But she was not as successful working on the land as she was on the air. In. three years, she lost £BOOO. She tried to make a comeback as a singer, but there was little public interest Vera, the singer of nostalgic wartime songs, seemed to be out of vogue and a has-been.

Overnight Success Then, in 1952. she made a record which became a smash-hit overnight—“Auf Wierdersehen.’ She shot to the top of hit parades in seven countries. She topped the American hit parade for 13 weeks —the only British recording star to achieve such lasting popularity in the United States. . Since then, Vera has always been, in great demand. But because of the kind of songs she

sings her popularity is now greater overseas than in Britain. Each year she is offered' a tour of Australia and New Zealand. But she always refuses because she likes to spend as much time as possible with her family. Miss Lynn makes about six records a year. Then there are fortnightly television shows, radio shows and recorded programmes for overseas. She also makes numerous appearances for charity, in particular to help spastics, and still gives special shows for the troops. Will she be tempted to make another come back after her retirement? She is sure that will never happen. For she has always found show business a great nervous strain and much prefers life as Mrs Lewis than as Miss Lynn. She has been happily married for 17 years to a music publisher, Harry Lewis. They live in two houses, one in the town, one in the country, and own four other properties'. Vera’s favourite pastime is buying houses, modernising them, and selling them.