He was known as the “singing milkman” and became one of the most beloved pop stars of the 1960s.

But now, an unforgettable voice from a golden era of  music has fallen silent.

Legendary British singer Craig Douglas has died at the age of 85.

For anyone who grew up with the music of the 1950s and 60s, some songs are more than just songs, they are memories. A melody can take you straight back to a certain time, a place, or a moment you thought you had forgotten.

Now, one of the voices behind those treasured memories has fallen silent.

Craig Douglas, best known for his beloved hit “Only Sixteen,” has died peacefully at his home on the Isle of Wight at the age of 85 following a short illness, his  family confirmed.

For a generation of music lovers, Douglas was a familiar face and voice during the golden years of pop. He first made a name for himself as the “Singing Milkman”, a nickname that stuck after he worked as a milkman before turning his passion for music into a career.

Born Terence Perkins in Newport on the Isle of Wight, he was a twin and initially lived a very different life from the one that would soon unfold. As a 15-year-old milkman and farm worker, he was encouraged by his mother, Mildred, to enter a local talent contest. He won the coveted $5 prize and caught the attention of a cinema manager who helped set him on the path to an international singing career.