Vera Lynn tops the Fab Four

THE Forces’ Sweetheart yesterday trumped the Fab Four in the battle for the top of the British charts, making Dame Vera Lynn the oldest living artist in the world to have a number one album.

Dame Vera’s debut offering We’ll Meet Again: The Very Best of Vera Lynn hit the top spot, meaning the 92-year-old has now usurped Bob Dylan as the oldest artist to grace the premium position.

Her album outsold artists including Arctic Monkeys, Jamie T and The Kings of Leon, and even trumped The Beatles’ much-hyped remastered editions.

The ’60s legends occupied the 5th, 6th, 9th, 10th, 21st, 24th, 29th, 31st, 33rd, 37th and 38th spots, according to the Official Charts Company.

It is 70 years to the month since Vera Lynn, then 22, visited the Decca studios and first recorded We’ll Meet Again in 1939.

Today Lynn said: “I am extremely surprised and delighted, and a big ‘thank you’ to all my fans for putting me there.”

HMV’s Gennaro Castaldo said the fact The Beatles albums went on sale late in the week damaged their chances of a number one.