CLIFF Richard was a young one once, as this old photograph shows.

Taken when the pop star was in his teens and just starting out in music, it was the back page picture of a souvenir programme for Arthur Howes’ Big Teenage Special concert at the former Gaumont cinema – now the Gala bingo hall – in Foregate Street, Worcester.

He was the headline act with his backing band the Shadows, then known as the Drifters, and starred alongside fellow performers of the era including Tony Marsh, Cherry Wainer, Neville Taylor and the Most Brothers.

Worcester News reader Tony Bryan was among the crowds who went to see him in December 1958 at what must have been the first of several appearances in the Faithful City.

Mr Bryan said Sir Cliff – who was billed as a former school javelin champion with a “terrific personality” and the band as a whole as “a fine bunch of lads” – was only just starting to gain his superstar status at the time.

“I was with a couple of mates – we used to go dancing at Fletchers, which is now Marr’s Bar in Pierpoint Street – and somebody got hold of these tickets,” said the 73-year-old.

“They asked if we wanted to come, so we met up at Dudfields pub in Foregate Street opposite the old post office.

"As we sat in there, who should come in but the Shadows. We nudged one another because we weren’t really sure – at that time Cliff wasn’t particularly famous.

“We went to see the show and, as far as I can remember, everybody enjoyed it.

"I don’t remember people getting up and walking out or booing.

“I saw him before he was the talk of the time. He was just part of another little pop group, which would come and go. But something clicked for him.”

• Were you at the concert? Tell us about your memories. Call 01905 742263 or e-mail sd@worcesternews.co.uk