Sir Cliff Richard has been left heartbroken after the sudden death of his lifelong friend.
The legendary singer is devastated after over the loss of former manager Bill Latham, who he lived with for 30 years.
The 82-year-old credited the one time religious studies teacher with helping him find the “spiritual pathway” that totally transformed his life.
He uploaded a picture of the pair of them together with American evangelist Billy Graham on Facebook.
Sir Cliff wrote: “Dear all. Yet another loss.
“This time, someone I feel as though I’ve known forever has left this life and moved on to a better one.
“Many, if not all of you, will know of whom I write … Bill Latham.”
He went on: “He is the one who led me on to that spiritual pathway that changed my life fully and completely.
“He showed me how important it was to be charitable and also be brave enough to speak openly of my faith. Bill was one of those people who you could reliably lean on and I did, many times.”
Addressing rumours regarding their relationship in 2008, Cliff said, according to Mail Online: “When Bill and I lived together, there were always stories about what people believed our real relationship was, but what nobody realised was that Bill’s girlfriend was living with us, too.
“Nobody asked about that, not that it was anyone else’s business. When Bill decided to move out, it was because he and his girlfriend wanted to be alone together, simple as that.”
Sir Cliff and Bill met in the 1960s, and quickly became friends.
Moving into the singer’s mansion on the St George’s Hill estate in Weybridge, Surrey, until 1996, Bill eventually moved out to live with his wife.
