Introduction:
In a conversation rich with warmth, humility, and reflection, Sir Cliff Richard opens a window into a life defined not only by music and fame, but also by friendship, gratitude, and service. Speaking with Robin about The Great Walk to Beijing — a fundraising journey supporting Olivia Newton-John’s Cancer Research and Wellness Centre — Sir Cliff shared not just memories of his remarkable career, but also his heart.
For millions, Cliff Richard has been a soundtrack to generations. Yet beneath the glitter of show business lies a man profoundly aware of how fortune, faith, and friendship have shaped his life. When asked about receiving his Knighthood, Cliff’s tone becomes reverent. He recalls the letter that arrived from the Prime Minister’s office, offering him one of Britain’s highest honors — an honor, he admits, “you can’t aim for.” Unlike gold records, a knighthood isn’t something you chase; it’s something bestowed. “It’s probably the best accolade I’ve ever received,” he says. The memory of kneeling before the Queen remains etched in his heart: the awe of Buckingham Palace, the weight of history, and the quiet words of Her Majesty — “This seems to have been a long time coming.”
But Cliff’s story began long before titles and ceremonies. Born Harry Webb, he never planned a life of fame. “I don’t remember having any plans,” he confides, until one day, at age twelve, he wrote to a pen pal in Australia, declaring, “My ambition is to be a singer.” Elvis Presley became the spark that lit the fire. Within a few short years, that dream turned real — his debut single Move It climbed to number two on the British charts on his eighteenth birthday. The shy boy from India, once teased as “Spider Webb,” became Cliff Richard — a name he crafted over a pint with his bandmates, one that would come to define an era.
Now, decades later, it is his humanity that shines brightest. When Olivia Newton-John called to ask for his help with The Great Walk to Beijing, Cliff didn’t hesitate. “You can’t say no to Olivia,” he smiles. Their friendship, forged in the late 1960s, has endured across continents and causes. To Cliff, Olivia represents courage and compassion — a survivor who turned her battle with cancer into hope for others. “She exudes an energy when it comes to helping — whether it’s people or animals,” he says, recalling how she rescued a newborn kitten on the walk and nursed it like her own.
For Cliff, this journey was more than symbolic. It was personal. Cancer has touched his inner circle — his manager, his assistant, his production director — all lost to the disease. Supporting Olivia’s vision, he says, is not only about research, but about “helping people live well with cancer — with dignity, with love.”
With humor, grace, and the humility of someone who has seen both triumph and tragedy, Sir Cliff Richard remains not just a music legend, but a true gentleman — a man who has learned that the greatest hits are not the ones sung on stage, but those that resonate in the hearts of others.