Museum deletes Savile web display

Beverley O’Hara was shocked to find the child sex abuse scandal star’s name and image remained on the interactive computer display during a visit to Leeds City Museum on Tuesday.

Users could even vote for Savile as their ultimate Leeds hero – a fortnight after the flood of abuse allegations against him began.

Other celebrities featured in the exhibit included writer Alan Bennett and actress Liz Dawn.

Mrs O’Hara, 39, from Moortown, Leeds, says she complained about Savile’s continued inclusion to a member of museum staff only to be told: “He hasn’t been found guilty.”

Now, however, Leeds City Council – which runs the museum – has taken action after being contacted by the Yorkshire Post.

A council spokeswoman yesterday said pictures of Savile had been immediately cleared from the walls of the museum when the abuse scandal broke.

She said his entry on the computer display had now also been wiped, explaining that its removal had taken longer due to “technical reasons”.

Mrs O’Hara, who visited the museum with seven-year-old daughter Marnie, said: “I’m pleased it’s gone, it didn’t seem right for it to still be there.”

Council bosses had already said they would be removing Savile’s name from a roll of honour-style tribute at Leeds Civic Hall.

Plans for a statue of the late star in Leeds’s Roundhay Park have also been dropped while city centre conference venue Saviles Hall has said it will be changing its name.

Savile’s gravestone has also been removed from Woodlands Cemetery in Scarborough.

The Department of Health yesterday appointed former barrister Kate Lampard to oversee the NHS’s involvement with inquiries into the TV and radio host’s activities.

He is alleged to have molested patients during his time as a volunteer porter at Leeds General Infirmary in the 1970s.

Savile is also said to have attacked youngsters at Buckinghamshire’s Stoke Mandeville Hospital, where he was a fundraiser.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) yesterday said it was offering counselling to current and retired nurses who worked alongside him at the hospitals.

An RCN spokesman said: “[We provide] a range of counselling and support services and these will ... be made available to members should they need them.”

Stoke Mandeville yesterday said it was also changing the name of the Jimmy’s cafe on its site.

Speaking out about the allegations, Savile’s former personal assistant has claimed the star “thought he was untouchable”.

Janet Cope also said he was like Peter Pan, “forever surrounding himself with youngsters”.

Ms Cope, who was Savile’s PA for 32 years, added: “I was frightened to death of him and I wasn’t the only one. He loved the power he had over people.

“On the face of it Jim led a celibate, nomadic and simple life which may have disguised a more sordid double life.”

Police fear Leeds-born Savile had up to 60 victims over six decades and appears to have had a “predilection” for teenage girls.