Health funding plan in memory of Sir Jimmy

A LASTING tribute is being considered in Leeds to mark the charitable achievements of Sir Jimmy Savile, who died on Saturday.

Senior politicians in the city promised yesterday to consider setting up a health fund in his name to raise money for equipment at local hospitals – including Leeds General Infirmary where he had worked as a volunteer porter.

City council leader Keith Wakefield said: “I am sure it will be supported if we find a way to celebrate his life and impact in Leeds. I am positive there will be strong support across all political parties. He did such a lot, particularly in the field of health. He did so many amazing things.”

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Councillor Wakefield said he would be speaking to NHS chiefs about the proposal but ruled out the idea of a statue, saying he could not imagine Sir Jimmy approving.

“He would want to be remembered for the work, dedication and commitment to charity, particularly involving health services.”

Fellow Labour councillor Bernard Atha backed the idea of a memorial fund, saying: “A number of us will consider what we ought to do to commemorate a person who was an outstanding personality, a very nice, decent person who had an enormous impact on our cultural life, including the world of pop music. He was quite exceptional yet he was a local Leeds lad and always insisted on that.”

A fund could be used to buy equipment or training, said Coun Atha. “We have just opened the children’s hospital in Leeds. It was something he was interested in and he always loved kids, genuinely.

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“I have thought about how we should mark his life. We could establish a large fund, similar to one we did with (Coronation Street actress) Liz Dawn which had a big impact on refurbishing the breast cancer centre. Jimmy was a Leeds Loiner who devoted an enormous amount of time to Leeds hospitals. He supported good causes and raised something like £40m over the years.”

Coun Atha, who had known Sir Jimmy for many decades, said a statue would probably not have met with his approval. “I’m sure he would have said that in 50 years people would say ‘who the hell is that?’”

As tributes poured in from royals, celebrities and fans, restaurant manager Ruggero Donna, of the Flying Pizza in Roundhay, Leeds, where the former DJ often dined, said he had become a true friend.

“He was a fantastic person; we will miss him,” said Mr Ruggero. “When he used to come he’d go straight to the kitchen and shake hands with all the porters and the people from the bottom to the top.

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After dining on sliced fillet steak, Sir Jimmy would enjoy a large glass of Lagavulin malt whisky.

“He would shake hands with everybody,” recalled Mr Ruggero. “He was part of the family after all these years. I last saw him about a month ago. He was poorly and in hospital. We wanted to go and see him but we were told he didn’t like to be seen when he was not well. I was looking forward to seeing him again.”

Staff enjoyed his “always positive” approach to life, he said. “He was a character and he had charisma. If a customer was having a birthday he would carry the cake to their table and move his hands around like a conductor.”

In Scarborough, where Sir Jimmy had a flat, council leader Coun Tom Fox, said: “He was very special to Scarborough. Indeed it was his adopted home. I think he could be described as one of Scarborough’s adopted sons as well. You couldn’t buy the publicity he gave the town as he promoted it wherever he went. He was a remarkable man.”

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Broadcaster and journalist Louis Theroux, who filmed a documentary on Sir Jimmy, said: “He was a complete one-off. Wrestler, charity fundraiser, deejay, fixer, prankster, and professional enigma.

He was also a plain spoken Yorkshire philosopher and psychologist. There won’t be another one like him.”

Leeds hairdresser Howard Silverman, 59, a friend of Sir Jimmy, revealed that every Friday morning Sir Jimmy had held what was known as the FMC, or Friday Morning Club, at his Leeds flat when friends would chat, surrounded by tea, cakes and whisky.

Mr Silverman saw Sir Jimmy last Wednesday when they went to a pub in Roundhay but became concerned when his 84-year-old friend did not touch his soup, although Sir Jimmy insisted he was “fine”.

Unfazed by media attention...

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BROADCASTER Louis Theroux said that filming Sir Jimmy’s life had been a “strange, fascinating and occasionally infuriating journey”.

Theroux worried what Sir Jimmy would think of the film. “My director and I were somewhat anxious about showing Jimmy the film before transmission. It was very much a warts-and-all portrait.”

After seeing the film Sir Jimmy said: “Yeah, that’s good, that is.”

“Every time I remember that I’m reminded how tough he was, how unfazed by negative attention. In an age of agents, PRs, and media handlers, he was completely the opposite, utterly free of showbiz airs. He was as far from being a diva as one could imagine.”