Sir James Wilson Vincent Savile, OBE, KCSG (31 October 1926 – 29 October 2011)
I had the privilege of running in the same marathon as Sir Jimmy Savile a few times back in the 80’s and was saddened to hear of his death last week but the memories will live on forever.
Sir Jimmy Savile's coffin was carried into church by Royal Marines today as thousands of mourners lined the streets to give the entertainer an extraordinary final send-off.
'His life story was an epic of giving - giving of time, giving of talent, giving of treasure'.
Many celebrities turned out including Frank Bruno and DJs Tony Prince and Mike Read
Frank Bruno said Jimmy Savile was 'one in a million'. The entertainer died two days short of his 85th birthday last month.
Speaking after the funeral, Mr Bruno said: 'He was a very special man. If he was here he would be taking over, saying: "Now then. Now then."
DJ Mike Read said: 'It was amazing. What a turn out all over the city. It was a wonderful service - just great - and all done in the best spirit.
'We saw tears, a lot of memories, and people from all walks of life. How can you encapsulate the life of someone like Jim into two hours? You can't. But it was brilliant.
'Jim tried his best. He lived life to the full.'
As the hearse approached, people working in the shops and offices around Leeds infirmary came out to line the streets.
The cortege stopped briefly in front of a Union flag flying at half-mast.
Hospital staff lined the street side garden each side of the flagpole and watched in silence as the line of black cars passed.
Minutes before, the cortege stopped outside Sir Jimmy's mother's old house in the Woodhouse area of the city.
People lining the streets broke into spontaneous applause as the hearse carrying the coffin slowly approached the cathedral.
The hearse was adorned with a wreath of white roses on its roof.
The crowd then maintained a respectful silence as relatives of the broadcasting veteran left the seven funeral cars.
But they again burst into applause as seven Royal Marines marched forward to carry Sir Jimmy's coffin into the cathedral.
Later Sir Jimmy will be buried with a Royal Marines medal and Green Beret and a Help for Heroes wristband and will be wearing his own clothes.
Speaking outside the cathedral, DJ Mike Read said: 'Today should be a celebration. He'd have loved it, a showman to the end.He said: 'He made people feel good.'
One wreath spelt out the numbers 208 in yellow and white flowers - the frequency for Radio Luxembourg, where Sir Jimmy once worked.
Other bouquets had been sent from cruise company Cunard, with which the DJ had links, the BBC, the Lord Mayor of Leeds, and members of the official fan club.
The congregation sang the hymn Jerusalem as his coffin was led out of the church.
On a dreary, drizzly day in his beloved home city of Leeds, relatives, friends and admirers joined complete strangers to file by and pay their respects.
The last time the nation did this so publicly it was for the Queen Mother. Here in the heart of urban Yorkshire, Sir James Wilson Vincent Savile, OBE, KCSG, appears to have been held in no less esteem.
This was the opening act of a three-day send-off for the veteran entertainer, a prolific charity fundraiser hailed as a man of the people, albeit a rather unorthodox one.
Well-wishers lay flowers and left messages in books of condolence as they trickled past the closed casket at the rate of ten a minute.
An estimated 5,000 came and went during the day – so many that the visiting deadline was extended.
You had only to look at the mix to understand how many different walks of life Sir Jimmy touched. There was a tramp, an airline pilot, a nun in a wheelchair alongside an Afghanistan veteran walking on carbon fibre legs; and a woman who came to apologise for treading on Savile's toe once during a charity marathon.
Later came mothers in pushchairs, a heavily tattooed punk rocker plus a member of a 1960s pop group so obscure that even the man in the casket might have had trouble recalling them. And, of course, a Jim'll Fix It badge holder, a lucky winner among the 20,000 a week who wrote in for Jim to fix it for them.
I am not surprised to learn:
SAVILLE CASH TO FUND NEW HEART INSTITUTE AT HOSPITAL HE SUPPORTED
FROM COAL MINER TO TOP OF THE POPS: THE LIFE OF SIR JIMMY
Sir Jimmy – James Wilson Savile – was born in Leeds on Halloween 1926.
He left school at 14 and when war broke out he enlisted as a coal miner for the war effort.
An underground explosion damaged his spine so badly that he had to give up mining.
Instead he became a local entertainer, organising what he described as Britain’s first disco in 1948.
His work in the dance-halls was eventually spotted and he was asked to move on to radio where he rapidly acquired national fame, first with Radio Luxembourg and then BBC Radio 1.
He later competed as a semi-professional sportsman, taking part in the 1951 Tour of Britain cycle race and a professional wrestler.
He fought 107 bouts but won just seven, insisting it was never fixed.
In 1964, Sir Jimmy presented the very first edition of Top Of The Pops.
In the 70s, he started a 20-year run as host of Jim'll Fix It, working miracles for more than 1,500 children.
He raised staggering amounts for charity - his accountant lost track after £40million.
Love and Respect you Jim
RIP
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