HARRY Styles’ first primary school teacher recalled the ‘lovely little boy with a twinkle in his eye’ after he paid tribute to her at his sell-out Manchester gig last night.

The Holmes Chapel pop star played the Emirates Old Trafford cricket ground as part of Love on Tour to thousands of adoring fans, but despite his worldwide fame, the singer still hasn’t forgotten his roots.

He halted his show to try and find his old primary school teacher in the crowd – Ann Vernon from Hermitage Primary School – after hearing she was retiring.

The Manchester Evening News reported how the crowd cheered as ‘Mrs Vernon’ was located on one of the big screens – but the Holmes Chapel primary school teacher admitted it wasn’t her.

“I wasn’t actually at the concert,” she explained.

Knutsford Guardian: Hermitage Primary School in Holmes Chapel. Google Maps imageHermitage Primary School in Holmes Chapel. Google Maps image

“My colleague Mrs Bailey and some other members of staff from Hermitage had been tweeting Harry’s mum over the years, ever since The X Factor.”

They mentioned Mrs Vernon and another staff member were retiring, and Harry had presumably heard the news and wanted to pay thanks to them.

As reported by the MEN, Harry thanked Mrs Vernon for being a ‘wonderful teacher’ and dedicated his next song – Canyon Moon – to her.

Mrs Vernon said although she wasn’t there in person, she had watched the videos back.

She said: “I was very touched, and I thank him for the kind words.”

Recalling his primary years, she said he always loved music, dance and performing.

“We’re all so proud of him at Hermitage, to think that he was here for all of his seven years of primary education,” she added.

“He was a lovely little boy, with a very supportive family and he did have a cheeky sense of humour and a twinkle in his eye.”