ELDERLY care home residents, Aaron Court Care Home, have been corresponding with popular Second World War singer Dame Vera Lynn ahead of her 102nd birthday.
The Forces’ Sweetheart, as Dame Lynn is widely known, responded to an email from the staff and residents at Aaron Court Care Home, in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire.
They wrote to her about how much they love her music, after spending an evening listening to classic tracks, including “We’ll Meet Again”, “The White Cliffs of Dover”, “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square” and “There’ll Always Be an England”.
They also mentioned the redecoration of a corridor at the home, in which they were planning to hang a framed picture of their favourite singer.
Residents were surprised when they received a letter in reply, including a signed photograph.
Dame Lynn wrote:
“I was delighted to hear your residents have been enjoying my music on Sunday evenings. It gives me great pleasure to send you a signed photograph for the newly decorated corridor at Aaron Court. Please send my best wishes to all the residents.”
After receiving the letter, residents Vernon Henry and Hilda Flemming decided to reply with hand-made birthday cards to wish her well for her 102ndbirthday.
Staff also arranged for an entertainer to visit the home and perform classic songs from Dame Lynn’s catalogue on the big day.
Lindsey Bevan, home manager at Aaron Court Care Home, said:
“We were playing different songs for residents and when Dame Vera Lynn’s music came on we saw just how much they enjoyed it. One resident began singing along and then another and another. Since then, we’ve been playing it in the lounge every Sunday evening. We thought we’d send an email to Dame Lynn through her children’s charity, which supports under-fives with cerebral palsy and other motor learning impairments. Both the staff and residents were delighted when we received a reply and a signed photograph, which has now been framed and hung in the corridor. Then two of the residents decided it would be a lovely gesture to write back with birthday cards. It’s all been very thrilling for the residents, who are huge fans. We must say a massive thank you to Dame Lynn for taking the time to write back. It has made everyone at Aaron Court Care Home very happy.”
