Sue barker heartbreak after cliff richard 'contemplated marrying star'

Barker was still playing tennis when she initially bonded with the Summer Holiday crooner, whose real name is Harry Webb.  They first met at a performance of Sir Cliff’s former band The

Shadows after being advised that they shared a similar interest in religion. Alan Godson, a vicar from Liverpool, told him that the tennis ace was “on a spiritual journey”, much like the

singer, and suggested she may need his help.  Sir Cliff was suggested because he had rediscovered his faith while being in the media spotlight. He took her to meet a small congregation in

London and after they bonded on the tennis courts, where the musician recognised her “unstoppable talent”.  When they jetted off to “different parts of the world”, Sir Cliff on musical tours

and Barker to pursue her sporting ambitions, he realised he missed her.  He said: “I thought about her a lot and we kept in touch via letter and phone calls.” In Sir Cliff’s new book The

Dreamer, he wrote: “It is well known that Sue and I went on to have a close relationship for a year or more, I have only fond memories of that time.” JUST IN: SUE BARKER HEARTBREAK: CLIFF

RICHARD ROMANCE ‘ENDED BY ROCK AND ROLL’ During their relationship, they had a number of “playdates” in different countries and accompanied one another to events, including a tennis match in

Copenhagen.  Barker also came to Abbey Road to watch him record his 1982 album Now You See Me, Now You Don’t. While neither of them have ever given a definitive reason for their break-up,

Sir Cliff’s previous relationships often ended because they posed a threat to his career.  During his early life, he recalled an angry fan stamping on her concert programme after she spotted

a lady sitting on his lap.  READ MORE: SUE BARKER: TV STAR'S HEARTBREAKING LOVE FOR QUESTION OF SPORT His love for being ‘Cliff Richard’, a rock and roll star loved by scores of fans,

ranked higher than jeopardising it all to return to being “plain old Harry Webb”. The musician, who celebrated his 80th birthday in October, reflected on their time together positively

during one extract.  He wrote: “She and I never had a cross word and 40 years on, if I ever see her, our friendship is as deep and natural as it ever was.  “And that’s the way I know it will

always be.” _CLIFF RICHARD: THE DREAMER WAS PUBLISHED BY EBURY PRESS IN OCTOBER AND IS AVAILABLE HERE. _