More gigs after Cliff at Shropshire hall

The day after Cliff rocked Walcot Hall, the former home of Clive of India in the tiny village of Lydbury North, near Bishop's Castle, fans have been singing his praises.

Sally Merrington, a member of the The Cliff Richard Fan Club of Birmingham, said: "Absolutely fabulous evening, Cliff never fails us and Walcot Hall did rock last night even though we were melting – even my hubby enjoyed it."

Lesley Shale from Bolton agreed, saying: "It was the most fabulous evening! I could hardly believe that after what he had been through over the past few years he is back to his best or even better.

"I have been lucky enough to meet him several times and see him on shows many times. This rated at the top of those experiences."

During the show Cliff was in good voice and good spirits, hailing the fact that the band could play while looking out at the sunset over the trees and lake at the hall.

A thunderstorm had been forecast for the early evening but only a light drizzle in the afternoon materialised, remaining hot, sunny and blue-skied during both Cliff's, and support act Collabro's, sets.

Though touring his Just... Fabulous Rock n Roll album of 50s and early 60s standards, his set was heavy on hits from across his career and during his first single Move It he even got some fresh teen-style adulation with cards, a teddy bear and even a bra thrown on stage, which asked to be "mailed to Tom Jones".

Lucinda Parish, of the family that has owned Walcot Hall for the past 50 years, said it had been a "brilliant experience".

"It's good fun and I would definitely entertain doing it again, but not every year maybe," she said.

"From our point of view the promoters were brilliant, there was good communication and they were nice people to have around.

"They were really appreciative of our venue and the fact that it was our home.

"Boe and Ball were absolutely brilliant about singing the praises of the the place on stage.

"Alfie asked 'are the owners here' and I put my hand up – and it turned out I was sitting next to his sister."

She said Alfie had come looking for her after but they had not managed to meet up.

However she did meet Cliff – and was introduced to him by another famous face, former BBC Radio 1 DJ and TV presenter Mike Read, a friend of Cliff's who recently unveiled a plaque in Bishop’s Castle to songwriter Jerry Lordan, who wrote a string of hits for The Shadows.

She said Mike Read showed up on the day and took her to have a glass of champagne with Cliff outside his dressing room before the show.

The only gripe came from those who were stuck in long queues in the rush to get out at the end, with some reporting more than two hours stuck in traffic.

On the Walcot Hall facebook page Kaye Jones said: "Appalling parking organisation and whether the evening is organised by a third party or the Hall it reflects badly.

"Two plus hours to get off the site, moved moved two metres in 45 minutes. Definitely not attending an event here again."

Though others said it was par for the course at such big events in rural locations.

Samantha Hall said: "Five star fabulous show. We left early after watching most of the concert to avoid wacky races at the end of the evening, having been to many events where there's a few thousand people leaving at same time I'm willing to sacrifice the ending of the show.

"Try Ascot races when the Queen is due to leave – five hours to do a couple of miles –.or just go to Central London, will feel the same but without the happy feeling of just watching an awesome show by Michael Ball and Alfie Boe."

Mrs Parish said she wanted to apologise to those who were stuck in the gridlock at the end of both gigs, but it was difficult to avoid.

"It is a lot of people and we haven't done it before and we were concerned about that but it's almost inevitable when you haven't got a second access route," she said.

She said feedback from people on the site had all been positive.