She died a month before she was to be awarded the DBE (Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1980 Queen's New Year Honours List for her services to entertainment.
She was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1946 King's Birthday Honours List for her services to the Forces during World War II.
Daughter of Paul (1880-1953) and Nora Phipps (née Langhorne) (1889-1955).
A memorial service was held for her at Westminster Abbey, London on 7 February 1980.
When she retired from the stage she started writing her memoirs.
Before performing she worked as a radio critic for The Observer newspaper.
During the war she made a short film 'A Letter From Home' about evacuee children directed by Carol Reed. She played an American woman looking after a child and Celia Johnson played a British mother.
As lyricist, co-wrote with composer Richard Addinsell many songs for revues and for her own one-woman shows.