Cliff: I’m okay, everything will be okay, thank you

for five days. I’m beyond excited.” Sheila Bartlett, 65, added: “He was on great form, laughing and joking with us. He was saying he’s back to his best and thanked us for his support. We love him.”

Chrissie Truman travelled from Barnsley, South Yorks, with her five friends who each sported gold “I am a proud Cliffette” rosettes.

The 67-year-old welled up as she said: “The day he got cleared I was in floods of tears. It was so emotional. He has been through so much. Every day he is getting better and better. He looks amazing. He’s slowly getting there but you can’t underestimate the toll this has had on him.”

But it was not just female fans who made the trip. Steve Hirst travelled from Leeds. The 59-year-old said: “I wouldn’t be as happy as I am without Cliff. I met the love of my life through him. More than a decade ago I met my now wife at a concert of his. We have a beautiful son and today I wanted it all to be completed by the three of us speaking to Cliff and getting a picture with him. It’s a day I will never forget.” Sir Cliff presented the mayor of Albufeira with one of his new red wines. The official then gave him a history book of the region. The singer said: “It looks like I came here when this book starts which is 1900.” Sir Cliff is suing the BBC over the raid at his home as well as South Yorkshire Police who tipped off the corporation in August 2014. Some fans chanted “justice for Cliff ” and at one point he looked up and said: “Thank you very much.”

He had been accused of molesting a boy of 15 at a Sheffield religious rally in 1985. But in June it was announced the investigation had ended as there was “insufficient evidence” to bring charges.

As Sir Cliff made his exit from the vineyard event the crowd screamed and surged forward. One fan yelled: “Oh my God I can’t believe he’s gone. I love you, Cliff.”