‘We’ll Meet Again’ - schoolgirl’s VE Day anniversary song has lockdown message for friends and family

Zahra Rad, nine, who attends St John’s College, sang the Dame Vera Lynn war time classic, ‘We’ll Meet Again’ along with a feel good rendition of ‘When You’re Smiling’. It was a song from the heart as Zahra has now spent almost two months unable to see her grandparents due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Zahra said: ‘I was a little bit nervous but I really enjoyed performing in front of my neighbours. I chose the song We’ll Meet Again as it was about the men leaving their families behind to go off to war and thinking about when they will see them again.

‘It’s similar to how things are at the moment as we can’t see all our family and friends due to coronavirus.’

Dad, Steve Rad, 35, added: ‘Zahra picked the song as it is quite personal to her at the moment as she can’t see her grandparents. She also chose When You’re Smiling as she hoped it would help to give everyone a lift.’

The performance certainly seemed to have the desired affect on the residents in Zahra’s street.

Next door neighbour, Eddie Grant, 69, said: ‘We really enjoyed the songs and Zahra sang very well. They are really appropriate at the moment as everyone is looking forward to seeing their families again.’

Residents on the street were also commemorating the landmark anniversary by watching a re-run of Churchill’s original VE Day declaration before enjoying a picnic lunch in their front gardens.

Zahra said: ‘It’s very important to remember people who lived during the war. My great grandmother was evacuated to Petersfield.’

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