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Lorrie Brown, of Owlthorpe, has been performing for nearly a quarter of a century as the woman who famously kept up troops’ spirits during the Second World War.

She is due to appear next month at the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln, where she will head the Dad’s Army-themed variety show A Salute to the 1940s as Dame Vera, to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

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Lorrie Brown as Dame Vera Lynn with the rest of the cast of A Salute to the 1940s - a Dad's Army variety show

The 57-year-old has raised more than £10,000 for The Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity, for which she is an ambassador and holds collections when she sings.

Her fundraising and commitment to keeping the wartime great's songs alive have led to friendship blossoming between her and the ‘Force’s Sweetheart’, who turned 102 in March.

After writing to Dame Vera her role in the commemorations at Bomber Command on June 8, she was delighted to receive a touching reply.

The letter which a thrilled Lorrie Brown received from Dame Vera Lynn

“It is wonderful to know that all these years later we are commemorating all our wonderful services who gave so much for our freedom,” states the letter.

“Please extend my grateful thanks to all those involved with what I am sure will be a magnificent tribute.”

Lorrie has toured the country, performing to many of the veterans who saw Dame Vera in the flesh during their wartime service but also introducing new generations to her timeless songs.

Dame Vera Lynn with Sheffield-based tribute artist Lorrie Brown

She was thrilled by the letter from her idol, whom she described as an ‘amazing, inspiring and really lovely’ woman.

“It means so much to get her blessing and to know she’s interested in what I'm doing,” said Lorrie.

“Her songs mean so much to people from all different generations, from the soldiers for whom she provided a brief escape from the horrors of the battlefield to the schoolchildren of today who are learning about what those troops endured.

“Dame Vera’s just thrilled to bits people are continuing to remember the sacrifices they made, which should never be forgotten.”

Lorrie is due to sing at Sheffield’s Peace Gardens this summer for Armed Forces Day.

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