THE FAMILY of the late Dame Vera Lynn have paid tribute to “kind and thoughtful” Sir David Amess after he was stabbed to death.
Dame Vera Lynn’s daughter, Virginia Lewis-Jones described the Conservative MP as a person who would “always try and help anyone, no matter what creed or ethnicity.”
Mrs Lewis-Jones added that Sir David was the “instigator” in helping set up her mother’s memorial last year.
It came after the former singer died in Ditchling in June last year, aged 103.
She said: "We are all absolutely devastated and completely shocked at the death of Sir David.
“He was in fact the instigator of my mother's Memorial. My husband and I had thought about one after my mother had passed away, but it was Sir David last November who really started the ball rolling.”
She also noted that the 69-year-old grew up in the same area of East London as her mother and would pop round to their house.
“He was so kind and thoughtful and it didn't matter who or what you were, he would always try and help anyone, no matter what creed or ethnicity. That was his role in life.
“The fact that both he and my mother came from the same area in East London gave them a bond, and he would pop down to our house for a cup of tea and a bun.
"Our hearts go out to his wife and family. He will be sorely missed - a light has gone out in the lives of ours and everyone else who knew him.
“We would just like to thank all of you who have donated to the memorial and in fact are continuing to do so.
“As I have said, there will be a tribute to Sir David within my mother's memorial and also in the park which we hope will be built on the western heights of the Cliffs of Dover.”
Sir David was stabbed multiple times last Friday while at a regular meeting with his Southend West constituents in Essex.
It has also been announced that the Queen will grant Southend city status in the memory of Sir David, something which he had been campaigning for 20 years to get.
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