West End singing star Sophie Evans has added ‘The White Cliffs of Dover’ to her repertoire and will give her first ever public performance of it later this month in Port Talbot.
The song was originally sung by ‘forces sweetheart’, the late Dame Vera Lynn, whose 1942 version was a great hit and one of the most played recordings during World War II.
Sophie learnt the song especially for the Mayor of Neath Port Talbot’s Remembrance Concert on Friday 27th October.
Sophie explained:
“I was honoured to be invited to take part in the Remembrance Concert and want to do something special to pay tribute to members of the Armed Forces community, past and present.
“The White Cliffs of Dover is such a beautiful and iconic song, and I am delighted that my first public performance of it will be in Wales.”
Sophie’s set for the concert will also include ‘Imagine’, ‘Get Happy’, ‘I Dreamed a Dream’, ‘As Long As He Needs Me’, Make You Feel My Love’ and ‘Over the Rainbow’.
The Mayor of Neath Port Talbot, Councillor Chris Williams said:
“Sophie is a talented and hugely popular artist, and it is exciting news that the audience at our Remembrance Concert will be the first to hear her sing ‘The White Cliffs of Dover’.
“Eighty-one years on from Dame Vera Lynn’s original recording the song still resonates with so many people.
“With a superb line-up, the concert promises to be a fantastic evening in honour of our Armed Forces Community.”
The evening, hosted by Mal Pope, will also feature performances from Number 3 Welsh Wing Royal Airforce Air Cadets Military Marching Band, NPT Cerdd Youth Band, Neath Male Choir and the City of Swansea Pipe Band.
It will end with the last post and thousands of falling poppies, the official emblem of remembrance.
The concert takes place at the Princess Royal Theatre on Friday 27th October. Tickets cost £10 for adults or £8 for concessions (under 16, over 60 and Armed Forces Veterans) and can be purchased from the Princess Royal Theatre or online at www.npttheatres.co.uk/princessroyal
The concert is part if the Mayor of Neath Port Talbot’s Armed Forces Festival, which also includes an information Day in the Aberafan Shopping Centre, events in Libraries, an art competition for children from military families and Remembrance Parades. For more information visit www.npt.gov.uk/AFF
