Captain Tom pays tribute to Dame Vera Lynn ahead of singer's funeral

Captain Tom Moore has said he will always have a soft spot in his heart for Dame Vera Lynn, ahead of the late singer’s funeral.

The We'll Meet Again singer - known as the Forces’ Sweetheart during WW2 - died aged 103 in June and will be laid to rest in a private service in Sussex today (July 10).

Appearing on Good Morning Britain, Captain Tom shared his memories of Dame Vera and told of the time she visited troops in Burma.

Read more: Duke and Duchess of Cambridge share message to Captain Tom Moore

“There she was, this lovely English girl,” said the 100-year-old.

“She was a great person to give us a lot more confidence and we were very, very pleased to see her.”

Captain Tom recently received a letter from the singer regarding the millions he raised for the NHS by walking laps of his garden.

He said: “I was absolutely thrilled to get a letter from Dame Vera congratulating me on the amount of money that we had raised for my birthday.

“She was always so kind, she was lovely, I’ve always had a soft place in my heart for Dame Vera.

“It was very sad when she died.”

Read more: Dame Vera Lynn dies aged 103

Dame Vera is set to be celebrated with a flypast at her funeral.

A ceremonial Battle of Britain Memorial Flight consisting of a Spitfire and a Hurricane aeroplane is set to fly over the village of Ditchling, where she lived, at noon.

The private ceremony will be for a small number of family members only, while a full memorial service is being planned for a later date.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic the number of people who may attend funerals is still limited to allow for social distancing.