BS: Cliff Richard - police investigation

Subject: BS: Cliff Richard
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 14 Aug 14 - 10:34 AM

We've all been waiting for this haven't we?

https://www.facebook.com/topic/Cliff-Richard/103753126330597?source=whfrt&position=3&trqid=6047423694724494421

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard
From: GUEST,Kampervan
Date: 14 Aug 14 - 10:47 AM

Link not working Richard. Intrigued by the reference though.

K/van

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 14 Aug 14 - 12:28 PM

Here is a blue clicky https://www.facebook.com/topic/Cliff-Richard/103753126330597?source=whfrt&position=3&trqid=6047423694724494421

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 14 Aug 14 - 12:30 PM

And another

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/aug/14/cliff-richard-home-searched-police-sexual-abuse-claims

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 14 Aug 14 - 01:44 PM

I hear he's just released a new single:
"Allegations, just allegations..."

RtS

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard
From: GUEST,Kampervan
Date: 14 Aug 14 - 01:45 PM

Another allegation - I do hope that it's not true.

Strange how the press seemed to know all about it though, helicopter in the sky, lots of cameras etc..

K/van

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 14 Aug 14 - 01:53 PM

Strange how the press seemed to know all about it though

Why? It was a block of penthouse apartments. Anyone who lived or worked there could have 'phoned up a newsdesk to let them know.

Or would you prefer that it's some sort of conspiracy?

Try Occam's Razor

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard
From: GUEST,Kampervan
Date: 14 Aug 14 - 01:59 PM

No, not suggesting conspiracy, just wondering how they knew. As you say, perhaps another resident phoned them.

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 14 Aug 14 - 02:02 PM

BBC had a helicopter overhead as the police arrived, so there must have been a tip-off.

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard
From: Abdul The Bul Bul
Date: 14 Aug 14 - 02:10 PM

Golly! So unexpected.
Al

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 14 Aug 14 - 02:13 PM

Apparently Sooty and Basil Brush have gone abroad

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 14 Aug 14 - 02:35 PM

I hope it isn't true because he has quite a following in which die hard Cliff fans go and spend their money on a regular basis. A friend of mine goes on an annual pilgrimage to every one when it is held in London because of the way he acknowledges his fans when he is there. He isn't my cup of tea but I hope isn't part of a witch hunt for yet another remote living Peter Pan type celebrity and Charity worker.

It isn't unexpected to me that he along with anyone else around that time would be questioned as things are at the moment but I do question why it takes so long for these things to come to light unless there are still an awful lot of people out there covering up.

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 14 Aug 14 - 02:50 PM

very sad...

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Aug 14 - 03:06 PM

The closest I ever heard was the reason Sue Barker kicked him out - she had a latex skirt prepared, talced and polished, and when she got back it had been tried on. He was the only one with a key to the room.
But a minor rubber fetish is a mile from this. But it was about the time this is alleged.

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard
From: Claire M
Date: 14 Aug 14 - 03:48 PM

Hiya!! Oh dear. Apart from 'Devil Woman' I can take/leave Cliff, but my flatmate is completely in love w/ him, she has been all her life. If it is true it'll take her a couple of yrs to get all her pix down.

If it's someone you've held in high regard for your whole life, someone who has always cheered you up when needed, what do you do then ??. Do you take your pix down or not?? Do you carry on listening to them/not ??

I also wonder why it takes so long for this to be uncovered, & fail to see the point of investigating somebody as old as he is.

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard
From: Musket
Date: 14 Aug 14 - 03:54 PM

Makes you wonder how Sooty got his name...

Naw, Cliff is a Christian and according to at least one holy member of Mudcat, Christians "don't do that sort of thing ."

Of course, we have no idea what "that sort of thing" is.

Speculation is better than evolution when it comes to growing legs.

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 14 Aug 14 - 06:40 PM

Actually his first live R&R album (with the Shads) is pretty good. And to my eternal shame I quite like both "Travellin' Light" and "Shrine on the Second Floor".

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 14 Aug 14 - 07:06 PM

i feel no shame - Cliff's songs have helped me put food on the table. as far as the music industry is concerned - he is great product. as one european publisher said to me years ago - we're big -we own the EMI songbook, that's all the Cliff Richard stuff.

his sustained success is a great achievement.

from stories, i have heard - he has sailed rather close to the wind for a guy with his squeaky clean image. but i have never heard of anything criminal

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 14 Aug 14 - 07:59 PM

Why don't we all just wait and see.

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard
From: GUEST,Rahere
Date: 14 Aug 14 - 08:05 PM

Another aspect of what's happened is that the Police, in leaking his name and putting a spokesman up behind it, has just driven a coach and horses with ostlers, footmen and coach dogs included through the recommendations of the Leveson Commission, which only allowed them to do what they have just done in naming him if he presents a real and imminent danger to the public.
I think Cliff might be about to become even richer at the expense of South Yorkshire Police.

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard
From: Bugsy
Date: 14 Aug 14 - 09:56 PM

I'm with you, Steve.

CHeers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard
From: Mr Red
Date: 15 Aug 14 - 03:22 AM

one more of the perils of being famous and rich. Legal blackmail.

If only I had something on Eric Idle (nudge nudge, wink,wink) but the worst he did at school was to be one of the smokers' club (strictly verboten) and brew elderberry wine (ditto). But as he was much older than me, maybe I didn't get to hear all the gossip. Apart from the day he left when the school did not cover themselves in glory, which is why he never mentions the place, and I don't in sympathy.

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard
From: The Sandman
Date: 15 Aug 14 - 04:22 AM

i would be interested to know what reason Cliff had for visiting elm tree guest house on a number of occasions, especially as it was visited by other people subsequently concvited of paedophilia, i find it suspiciuos.

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 15 Aug 14 - 05:38 AM

doesn't sound like a resident of the flats with a tip off. there was a tv helicopter in place to film the police cars arriving in convoy. you can't help thinking - the police would surely not do this in a speculative action. they must be expecting to find something.

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard
From: mayomick
Date: 15 Aug 14 - 09:27 AM

It seems odd to me that GSS is the only one on this thread who is aware of the existence of the Elm Park guest house and Cliff Richard's visiting there. Not so odd I suppose when even Sir Cliff's publicist Lisa Davies said today that she was not previously aware of the allegations of child abuse against Sir Cliff .
The Daily Mail wrote about Elm House last year without naming the pop stars alleged to have visited the guest house ,but a google search quickly turned up Sir Cliff's name:
"During a police raid on a property in central London last month, detectives seized a list of names of high-profile alleged visitors to the Elm Guest House in Barnes, South-West London — a gay-friendly establishment, and one where under-age rent boys and children from the Grafton Close home were reportedly brought to have sex with adult men.
The list includes a number of senior MPs, a high-ranking policeman, a leading tycoon, figures from the National Front and Sinn Fein, an official of the Royal Household, an MI5 officer, two pop stars and the traitorous Soviet spy Anthony Blunt.
Cyril Smith, the late Liberal MP for Rochdale, has already been named as a regular at the guest house, where he allegedly met teenage rent boys when the homosexual age of consent was 21.
The guest house has also been linked to a now-defunct Tory fringe group that promoted homosexual rights."
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2272253/Timebomb-Elm-Guest-House-Pop-stars-bishop-politician-appear-list-seized-police-

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard
From: The Sandman
Date: 15 Aug 14 - 09:50 AM

yes mayomick , i was surprised, that no one seemed aware of the existence of elm park guest house

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 15 Aug 14 - 10:16 AM

Whatever the facts and truth,
and many of us have been aware of various bizarre 'rumours' for a long long time...;

Sir Cliff [or should that be Lady Harriet ?] has certainly had plenty of time
to prepare for any legal ramifications of this inevitable eventuality of shaming public exposure and formal allegations.

Won't stop me listening to his classic vintage chart hits though.
He's still the 3rd or 4th best British rock 'n roll singer ever.

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard
From: The Sandman
Date: 15 Aug 14 - 12:15 PM

"He's still the 3rd or 4th best British rock 'n roll singer ever."
imo hes behind john lennon, eric burdon,mick jagger,long john baldry, paul maccartney, keith relf[ cliff hes seventh rate].

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 15 Aug 14 - 01:11 PM

None of whom were Rock 'n' Roll singers.

Top of the British R&R crop was Johnny Kidd, IMHO, closely followed by CR and Marty Wilde, then Vince Eager. You can take your pick after that.

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard
From: GUEST,MikeL2
Date: 15 Aug 14 - 02:43 PM

Hi
<" Why don't we all just wait and see. ">

I agree Steve.

I though in British justice you are innocent until proved guilty.

Looks like in this instance Sir Cliff is being branded as guilty already.

Cliff's music is not my cup of tea but I do not dispute his contribution to the music scene.

IMHO He recorded the first really Rock & Roll song by a British artist when he recorded Move It with the Drifters.

Lets just see what happens eh??

Cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 15 Aug 14 - 06:29 PM

..for what it's worth - my top 5 UK vintage Rock'n'Rollers.

Billy Fury, Johnny Kidd, Vince Taylor, Cliff Richard, Marty Wilde.....

Billy, when he started out, was the most authentic at aping US Rockabilly.
Cliff had the best writers, producers, and backing band.
Vince and Johnny were the real deal rockers [much respected by 1970s punks].
Marty, well he was one of the better also-rans along with Tommy Steele & Shane Fenton.
Most of the rest of UK produced 50s R'n'R was just cack.


Now back to talking about alleged historic abusive celebrity degenerates.

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard
From: The Sandman
Date: 16 Aug 14 - 02:48 AM

I though in British justice you are innocent until proved guilty."
correct, the reality is that the media[in this case the net] name people before they are tried,the same thing happens all the time, some years ago in my area there was a local murder case a woman called sophie du plantier was murdered and a suspect who was never charged and who was therefore innocent, has had his life ruined by being named.

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 16 Aug 14 - 03:07 AM

Good Soldier Schweik - talking of British rock singers - said:

"hes behind john lennon, eric burdon,mick jagger,long john baldry, paul maccartney, keith relf"

Not a very stimulating list! To a man, singing in American accents! Or, trying too!

I remember speaking to Eric Burdon, in 1964, and being struck by is rich - and strong - Geordie accent. I was even more struck - an hour or so later - when that accent totally disappeared to be replaced by a voice that sounded somewhere between John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters.

Long John Baldry's singing voice was embarrassingly phoney.

And, Mick Jagger! Dreadful!

If we are going to quote British singers who use American accents - and most of them do! - then Paul Rodgers - to my ears - does it without sounding phoney.( the opposite is Elton John!)

Cliff - as he developed - again to my ears - did adopt more of an English sound and that is to his credit!

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard - police investigation
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 16 Aug 14 - 03:10 AM

Certainly wouldn't argue against Billy, PFR - he was a great singer and sick-makingly good-looking. RIP.

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard - police investigation
From: bubblyrat
Date: 16 Aug 14 - 05:16 AM

Did you know that "Travelling Light" was released in Spain as "The Light That Travels " ?

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard - police investigation
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 16 Aug 14 - 05:35 AM

Just been reading about the Belgian genocide in Congo area, at the time "owned" by King Leopold II of Belgium - 12-15 million murdered was it?? which rather puts things in perspective about the media's current obsession with an alledged dark side to Cliff Richard, and no doubt others in the future!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard - police investigation
From: akenaton
Date: 16 Aug 14 - 07:17 AM

Child abuse should always be exposed, no matter who commits the offence....no point in contrasting it with genocide.

Apparently there was a homosexual sex ring operating from the Elm Park address, and Cliff Richard was a frequent visitor. The ring specialised in young boys, and contained some very unsavoury characters.

This seems to be on a completely different level from what we have seen in the Rolf Harris case.

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard - police investigation
From: GUEST,
Date: 16 Aug 14 - 07:18 AM

With so many previous 'celebrities' having been charged, if Cliff Richard has anything to hide he has had plenty of time to make sure there is nothing incriminating in any of his properties.

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard - police investigation
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 16 Aug 14 - 08:08 AM

I will contrast it with genocide which is of great consequence - if he has touched somebody up, I'm sure it was with his or her consent, be realistic they are usually up for it - therefore of no consequence, and it only seems to be time wasting PC idiots in this country that have nothing better to do.

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard - police investigation
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 16 Aug 14 - 08:10 AM

The only thing that the police could hope to find is dodgy porn on a hard-drive, and, as Cliff would have considered a police raid a possibility, the chances of finding anything would be zero!

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard - police investigation
From: GUEST,
Date: 16 Aug 14 - 08:20 AM

As it is unlikely that searching the property will uncover anything, the purpose of the raid (and the cameras and helicopters) would seem to be maximum publicity in order to encourage complainants to come forward.

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard - police investigation
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 16 Aug 14 - 08:41 AM

Akenaton -

"Apparently there was a homosexual sex ring operating from the Elm Park address, and Cliff Richard was a frequent visitor. The ring specialised in young boys, and contained some very unsavoury characters."

Links to evidence by anychance?

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard - police investigation
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 16 Aug 14 - 08:46 AM

The Times reckons that as well. if it is, its wrong. after all its a bit like putting an ad in the paper, and saying -anybody gotanything we can stick this bloke with.

every police officer, prison guard, teacher, doctor, nurse in the country probably has somebody somwhere hating their guts over a perceived injustice.

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard - police investigation
From: akenaton
Date: 16 Aug 14 - 09:06 AM

You are quite correct Les, there is little hard evidence available, as much seems to have been concealed by the "establishment", but there is plenty in Mayomicks link which is worrying.

If you Google Elm Park Guest House, there are links to previous investigations.

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard - police investigation
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 16 Aug 14 - 10:30 AM

Wherever this investigation leads - the outcome of any trials, and sentencing if found guilty.

This now just about ends all hope for the search for an archive uncut widescreen print and special edition Blu-ray
[restoring all deleted scenes] of "Expresso Bongo"

One of the lost 'holy grails' for serious aficionados of 1950s British lurid Rock'n'Roll era culture.

This recent irrational hysterical knee-jerk erasing of convicted celebrity sex offenders from cultural history benefits nobody.

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard - police investigation
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 16 Aug 14 - 01:46 PM

Thanks Ake,I wasn't being 'smart' i was just curious because I hade heard of the Elm Park Guest House i other contexts

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard - police investigation
From: akenaton
Date: 16 Aug 14 - 02:07 PM

Thank you Les, you are one of the most civil members, and I didn't think you were being "smart" at all.

PFR.....I saw "Expresso Bongo" several times when it first came out...thought it was terrific....specially the topless dancing girls! :0)

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard - police investigation
From: Ed T
Date: 16 Aug 14 - 03:51 PM

An interesting perspevtive on his music career from the Guardian, 2009.

The Guardian, 2009 

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard - police investigation
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Aug 14 - 07:21 PM

Now the cops have turned on the Beeb wanting to know how they learned of the raid as nobody on the Force told them...
Me, I reckon Caversham might know summat.

Subject: RE: BS: Cliff Richard - police investigation
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 17 Aug 14 - 04:44 AM

I used to have the Expresso Bongo EP in subliminal mono, there was a great instrumental from the then Drifters - did Hank have "that sound" yet - Fender Strat/Meazzi Echo/Vox AC15??