Petula Clark's incredible career proves she has staying power

At 83 and with an incredible career behind her, Petula Clark isn’t standing still. She’s even recorded a new album, writes Lorraine Wylie

IT’S hard to imagine a time when social media didn’t exist. An era when twitter was birdsong and friends were people you actually knew. Born in 1932, Petula Clark’s generation was free from the tyranny of internet and mobile phones. But instead of a cacophony of ring tones, the soundtrack to Clark’s childhood was more sinister. As World War II raged across Europe, life was constantly interrupted by the shriek of sirens and exploding bombs.

“During the war, life was hard for everyone and most children missed out on a lot of things. Yet, there were also some very special times. Somehow children can find joy, even in the darkest moments.”