Sir Cliff Richard’s weekend involved a round trip to the UK to be interviewed by South Yorkshire Police on Saturday, followed by a lunch party and tennis with several close friends back in his holiday home in the Algarve on Sunday.
He is thought to have left the Algarve by private jet early on Saturday morning. He was ensconced back in his 16-acre vineyard estate near Guia that same evening.
“The round-trip in a Learjet cost about £15,000 according to the Mirror newspaper.”
The visit was in connection with the investigation into an allegation of sexual abuse against a boy at an event in Shefield almost 30 years ago.
“Sir Cliff Richard voluntarily met with and was interviewed by members of South Yorkshire Police. He was not arrested or charged. He co-operated fully with officers and answered the questions put to him,” explained a spokesman for the singer.
“Other than restating that this allegation is completely false and that he will continue to co-operate fully with police, it would not be appropriate for Sir Cliff to say anything further at this time.”
The police interview came nine days after the controversial raid on his Berkshire penthouse apartment. It was broadcast live by the BBC, which had a camera crew by the front gate and another in a helicopter hovering overhead. Sir Cliff was in the Algarve at the time and had no prior warning that it was about to take place.
The South Yorkshire Police chief in charge of the investigation and the BBC Director General are to appear before members of a British parliament committee next week to explain the way in which they very publicly handled the raid.
Sir Cliff has since pulled out of a ceremony in which he was to be awarded the ‘Keys to the City of Albufeira’, a visit to the US Open tennis championships and an appearance at a charity event at Canterbury Cathedral.
Fans have rallied round and promoted a campaign that has seen Sir Cliff’s I Still Believe In You re-enter the charts at number 57.
By LEN PORT
