It is not every day you get a “personal visit” from your pop idol, but for one Tadcaster teacher, Valentine’s Day was special in more ways than one.

Bev Barritt, food technology teacher at Tadcaster Grammar School, celebrated her 60th birthday on Valentine’s Day and her colleagues made sure that her special day was one she won’t forget in a hurry, with a “visit” from her favourite singer, Sir Cliff Richard.

Bev has been a fan of Cliff for as long as she can remember and travels the length and breadth of the country to attend his concerts.

On her special day, staff members decorated her room with photographs, banners and memorabilia.

Joanna Joslin, head of the technology faculty, said: “Bev lives and breathes Cliff Richard and so what better way to help her celebrate her big birthday and Valentine’s Day with a visit from him with a song.

“Cliff, otherwise known as science teacher Oliver Penrose, serenaded Bev with his version of Congratulations and she was presented with a cake decorated with Cliff’s picture.”

“I couldn’t believe it,” said Bev.

“The staff have really gone to great lengths to make sure that my birthday celebrations lasted all day and the icing on the cake was Oli as Cliff.”