FROM the jungles of Burma to the state rooms of Buckingham Palace – Dame Vera Lynn has had quite a life.

As she celebrates her 100th birthday, we bring you a Timeout special. On the opposite page you will find a special Dame Vera quiz as well as an On This Day marking some of the singer’s milestones.

We have also printed some of our favourite photographs of the Forces’ Sweetheart which go all the way back to her war years.

Bottom left shows the singer visiting troops in Burma. The authorities did not want her to go as it was deemed too dangerous but Dame Vera knew she could make a difference and so persuaded those in charge to let her go.

It is certainly one of her proudest moments. Soldiers travelled from miles around to see her as she toured the army camps and hospitals.

She became a household name during the war and appeared with all the greats of stage and screen. The photo above shows her with comedians Tony Hancock and Jimmy Edwards rehearsing for a show called London Laughs, at the Adelphi Theatre in London.

Bottom left is a photo of one of her many meetings with royalty. She is pictured with the Queen Mother who was another pillar of strength for the country during the war.

In the 1950s she moved from London to Sussex and has lived here ever since. She has been an active member of the community and has always volunteered her time for charities and local good causes.

The main image, top left, shows her on a locomotive at Isfield. Dame Vera is seen, right, at one of her many visits to the Bluebell Railway.

In the image, from 2004, she is with the late Bernard Holden MBE at the launch of his book, Let Smoke Make Steam. Above it is a lovely photo of Vera at Ingfield Manor School for a cheque presentation for her charity.

She has met all sorts of people over the years and her singing partner in the final image, top right, needs no introduction.

She had joined Petula Clark and Bruce Forsyth for a special rendition of We’ll Meet Again for the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.