Sir Cliff Richard chose not to attend a ceremony in Albufeira on Wednesday at which he was to be awarded the ‘Keys to the City of Albufeira’, the municipality’s highest honour.
It is believed he felt it inappropriate to formally accept the Freedom of the City in the light of the recent publicity about the police raid on his home near London and the ongoing investigation into an allegation of sexual assault.
It is thought he felt his attendance at the Albufeira award ceremony might have overshadowed the event at which others were also to be honoured.
Sir Cliff has been Albufeira’s most internationally famous home-owner since he bought his first property there in 1961. The road on which his original home is located has been renamed Rua Sir Cliff Richard. He has twice moved residence, each time a bit further to the west. His present holiday home is on the outskirts of the municipality in a vineyard estate near Guia.
The 73-year-old singer spends the midsummer months in the Algarve and the winter months in his €6 million property in Barbados.
By LEN PORT
Pictured: Sir Cliff with Algarve Elvis tribute act Ricki Ryan during a recent visit to the Kiss FM studios in Albufeira
