THE MUSIC of Vera Lynn will be brought to Ilkley in a brand new show about the The Forces Sweetheart.

Sincerely Yours - The Vera Lynn Story promises an afternoon of pure nostalgia when it come to King's Hall at 2pm on Tuesday, September 12.

The show will star Lorrie Brown who has been named by the agents association as the UK's top Vera Lynn tribute, and who has met the great singer in her home.

Lorrie says: "It was both a dream and terrifying, I have been performing the songs of this great lady for over 25 years, I have performed in football stadiums to 33,000 people and sang in some of the country’s finest theatres but this was the most nervous I have ever been. In the end she was a perfect host. As soon as I entered the room she gave me a hug and congratulated me on my award. She was just so happy that I was keeping her music alive. We sat and talked for three hours about her time entertaining the troops and especially about her time in Burma, she had a very strong connection with the troops in Burma and she was so proud to have been allowed to go out and entertain them."

Lorrie has since begun a tour of a show that she has devised with her husband and co-producer Gary Birtles.

She said: "2017 is Dame Vera’s 100th birthday and the nation is honouring all her achievements from her life. During my usual show we talk about the work she did during WW2 so the next logical step was to tell people about her life before the war and what shaped her into becoming the forces sweetheart. She started her career singing in the dance bands and that is where we will start. We will be performing on stage with a live seven piece band and singing many of the songs she would have sung in her early days, then moving on to her time entertaining the troops and hosting her own radio show Sincerely Yours, which is where the title of the show comes from. Dame Vera had many hits so we will try and get as many in the show as possible all with that live band sound. Also on the bill will be support by another wartime favourite, George Formby performed by one of the country’s leading George Formby tributes, Colin Bourdiec."

Lorrie has performed at many different venues during her 25 years and she said: "The two that really stand out are performing on the pitch at West Ham UTD during half time on

Remembrance Sunday in 2009. It was amazing singing to 33,000 people and hearing them all join in with We’ll Meet Again. The other highlight was spending two years touring with the legendary Danny La Rue, performing in some of the country’s largest venues. Danny was a big fan of Dame Vera’s and he asked me to join him on his tours."

To book please call the Box Office on 01274 432000 or visit bradford-theatres.co.uk or call 01274 432000 to book. Tickets cost £16.50.