.............not all those that wander are lost..............

Monday 29 October 2012

Adding my own two penneth..........

Recent media coverage about Jimmy Savile has made me remember why I didn't like him. For many years I refused to watch him on the telly or join in any conversations about his 'good works'.

The story behind this dislike is from my student days and I thought I'd share it with you.

I attended Padgate College of Education, in Warrington, from 1967 until 1971. In common with other student establishments, we had an annual rag week to collect money for charity. My memory is a bit hazy as to the actual year the following happened but it was probably 1968 or 1969.

The Rag Week Committee had written to or otherwise contacted Jimmy Savile to enquire if he would be able to come to our Rag Week and crown the Rag Queen. The answer was 'yes' but only if he could sleep with her! There was no doubt that this was not a joke.

There was general shock and disbelief that such a well-known celebrity could be quite so brazen, sleazy and sexist. Needless to say, our invitation was withdrawn.

From that day, I have told this story to anyone who praised the man for his 'wonderful' work. Most people over the years have thought it probably was a joke but somehow the students of Padgate, including me, knew it was not.


6 comments:

Mike Knipe said...

...should have had a Rag King hetero scrum-half with a bad temper and a addiction to Brut.

Laura said...

Unfortunately, no-one thought of that!

Louise said...

Utterly sickening. It makes you wonder how many other people have been able to hide behind the celebrity tag.

Laura said...

Sickening indeed! Men like that have always made my flesh crawl!

AlanR said...

There's a lot going to come out of the woodwork with all this. He was certainly a misguided man to say the least.

Anonymous said...

Eugh, what a horrible man. It's amazing that he got away with it for so long but I suppose that's what some arrogant "celebrities" are able to do, as nobody is brave enough to challenge them. Quite disgusting.