Modern day forces sweetheart heads to Luxembourg

Vera Lynn turned heads with her striking voice and classic looks when she performed to troops around the world, even visiting Luxembourg in the 1950s to perform for Radio Luxembourg. More than 60 years on, and a new forces sweetheart is to visit the Grand Duchy, taking audiences on a journey back in time as she sings the old favourites.

Kas, 23, is a professional singer of songs from the 1940s who has been invited to entertain veterans and amateur historians at a WWII night vigil to be held on December 16. Organised by the Friends of Patton's 26th Infantry Division, the event pays tribute to those who fought in Luxembourg, with a cortège of military vehicles, screenings of unseen film footage from the period and live music.

From one generation to another

British-born Kas is no newcomer to the scene. Though it will be her first trip to Luxembourg, she has spent the last five years developing a business as a WWII singer. Her interest in the period grew from her grandparents, who would sing her to sleep with tunes like “We'll Meet Again”. Her talent for singing was recognised when, aged 12, she played Sandy in the musical Grease. From then on, a career in anything other than music was unthinkable. Kas was trained in operatic singing by Phantom of the Opera performer Avril Gray and then went on to found her own business with the help of NGO The Prince's Trust and her mother, Kim.

For her, there is no era which can match the 1940s for its powerful music. She told wort.lu/en: “I would say today there are no songs out there with really any feeling or words that will make you cry. The songs I sing are like those in Band of Brothers, like Hope and Glory. You will always get someone in the audience filled with emotion.”

Authentic to the core

The singer goes to great lengths to dress the part, seeking out authentic costumes from the era. Given the different body sizes of women during the 1940s compared to now, she follows a strict diet in order to squeeze into the size 6 outfits. But, for her, this is a small price to pay for the pleasure of knowing her shows are authentic and strike a chord with her audiences.

Working with veterans at special events and doing music therapy in retirement homes, she is often touched by the feedback she receives.

“When I sang in front of the blind ex servicemen and women, they would tell you stories of what happened. That's even more powerful than actually singing to them because I've brought out a conversation,” said Kas.

A passion for work

While WWII is long since over, Kas recognises the importance of her work for all audiences, in ensuring the horrors of war not to be forgotten and in thanking those who fought for peace. A pacifist, she plans to visit Headley Court Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre and the John Radcliffe hospital, in Oxford, where injured soldiers from contemporary conflicts are treated. At the same time, she works tirelessly to raise funds for veteran associations.

“When you think about the veterans and other people who lost their homes, the firemen and paramedics, all the people affected, if it wasn't for what they did we wouldn't be here today. We wouldn't have the freedoms we have. It's very much a passion for me,” she said.

Watch Kas perform at the Night Vigil on December 16 at 7.30pm at the Centre Culturel in Tandel, near Diekirch.For more information, email secretary@fpyd.org or visit www.fpyd.org