Sir Jimmy Saville RIP

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up!

Just found out that The Gaffer Geezer has passed away, aged 84. Love him or loathe him, I reckon it is certain that he played a part in most of our childhoods.

More info:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15507374

Thought I posted this yeaterday but clearly not. I hate computers!

[strang steel]

Yes, he was a great bloke. He raised millions for charity in the days when it was not quite so fashionable.

I remember him on the first ever TOTP in about 1963. I thought he was one of my generation of music lovers, but was rather shocked to discover some years later that he was only 3 years younger than my Dad.

RIP Jimmy, you were one of many who shaped my musical tastes in the 1960s.


"Now then, now then. Goodness gracious - it is time for a song from Sho-Waddy-Waddy. How's about that then?"

[60129 GUY MANNERING]

I lived opposite Stoke Mandeville hospital for 23 years and we regulaly saw him out running whilst walking our dogs,he never failed to speak and was great with the young children.
Love him,Hate him one thing is without doubt,he saved Stoke Mandeville Spinal Injuries Unit by his inspirational charity work which was copied by locals but could never be emelated.
R.I.P James.

[richard]

Yes, having grown up within walking distance of Roundhay Park (Leeds), we'd sometimes see him running down our street. He'd always give a quick wave.


Richard

[PinzaC55]

Very sad to hear this. Beside being a great character on the radio he did those adverts for British Rail which helped to revive their fortunes. They gave him a gold medallion (1st class travel pass) as well.

[strang steel]

Yes, there was one very good one which began with a telephoto of a 4-aspect signal that changed from red via the yellows, to green.

At that time, late 1970s/early 80s, I really did believe that electrified railways might have a 'second coming' in this country, but I bargained without the influence of Lady T Of Grantham.

My Dad reckons that it was lying awake at night listening to the overnight heavy trains starting out from the station, that put Mrs T. off railways for life.

I think he has a point. She would have been in her late teens during the war years, and I can imagine the noise that certain heavy troop trains, or goods trains made after a station stop.

Needless to say, I would have loved to have spent my nights listening to A3s and A4s starting 15 coach trains northwards from Grantham.

[Mickey]

Deleted

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up!

Reading all this has reminded me. Once, while passing through the Roundhay area, we saw a chap in a white tracksuit puffing at a cigar roughly the size of an airship. It was Jimmy. We wound down the windows of the car, he shook our hands and said "Hello, my friends, hello!" My mum said she wasn't going to was for a month!

A nice guy and a sad loss.

He gave up working at Stoke Mandeville when he found out that the Management there were not advertising a vacancy because Sir Jimmy was working so regularly. Thus ended many years of very quiet work without the trumpet fanfares that usuallu accompany today's "celebrities" when they do this sort of thing.

I understand he was, at one point, a professional wrestler. His nickname? Loser!

[Coboman]

At that time, late 1970s/early 80s, I really did believe that electrified railways might have a 'second coming' in this country, but I bargained without the influence of Lady T Of Grantham.

Damn! and there was me thinking that the majority of the ECML was electrified between 1984 and 1991...you lives and you learns.....

[PinzaC55]

Regarding "Jim'll Fix It" I remember one show where a kid was a big fan of Status Quo and wanted guitar lessons. Not only did Jim get him to play with the Quo, they gave him one of their guitars signed! The lad was practically in tears.

[60129 GUY MANNERING]

Ay up!

Reading all this has reminded me. Once, while passing through the Roundhay area, we saw a chap in a white tracksuit puffing at a cigar roughly the size of an airship. It was Jimmy. We wound down the windows of the car, he shook our hands and said "Hello, my friends, hello!" My mum said she wasn't going to was for a month!

A nice guy and a sad loss.

He gave up working at Stoke Mandeville when he found out that the Management there were not advertising a vacancy because Sir Jimmy was working so regularly. Thus ended many years of very quiet work without the trumpet fanfares that usuallu accompany today's "celebrities" when they do this sort of thing.

I understand he was, at one point, a professional wrestler. His nickname? Loser!

Thats interesting "Blink Bonny" I never understood why he packed up so suddenly at Stoke Mandeville and yet a lot of our neighbours were Doctors and Nurses there. I knew he had fall outs with the Administrators,but then so did one of the best Doctors I have ever met the Late Dr Halliwell. He strangely moved to Grantham about the same time as me.He was a bit eccentric like Jimmy as he always wore Poo Bear Ties and was very john blunt.Not to popular with the Administrators ,but a real patients Doctor.
I did know about his wrestling which I believe came about through the Crabtree family (Big Daddy ).
A real good charity man,who worked very hard in so many ways for Stoke Mandeville Hospital,and for one person he was a great guy. Me.
He gave us a decent hospital from what had been a tip. I say R.I.P to two Gents I had the pleasure to know.
Regards,Del.

[60129 GUY MANNERING]

At that time, late 1970s/early 80s, I really did believe that electrified railways might have a 'second coming' in this country, but I bargained without the influence of Lady T Of Grantham.

Damn! and there was me thinking that the majority of the ECML was electrified between 1984 and 1991...you lives and you learns.....

As much as I dislike Lady T Of Grantham, I think that the real villain in the woodpile was Ernest Marples - Minister of Transport in the early 60's and a large company who built the M1 (OUR FIRST MOTORWAY) called if I remember Marples Ridgeway.
Now thats a coincidence is it not.Mind you it will please me if we can blame Maggie for anything thats gone wrong be it Railways or the Weather. Not that I am prejudiced you understand and to be fair I dislike Brown as much as Maggie with Blair only beaten by a short head.In fact if I am Honest ( Sorry to any MP's who do not understand) I don't like many of them these days.
The best one in my opinion is the MP for Newark & Sherwood Patrick Mercer MP.
Although after having to look up his surname (Senior Moment) on the internet, I see from todays local paper the "Newark Advertiser" it has just come to light and he has admitted, that he has been having an affair with the secretary of a fellow MP.
Regards.

[manna]

G'Day Gents

Don't get news like Jimmy Saville, passing away, as he is unknown over here, except to 1.4 million Poms, that live here, a great shame, and lots of memories of Top of the Pops and Jim'll fix it, Good bye Jim

And to Mrs T, I'm sorry that the steam trains kept you awake, during the Second World War, but they really did stop you from becoming a slave laborer in a Nazi run factory, bringing you your food, moving the soldiers to the front, to die for your freedom .................Oh ! I give up with people so shallow

manna

[richard]

re. his volunteer charity work, I know he also did no-fuss volunteer orderly work for one of the Leeds hospitals. I think it was LGI but it might possibly have been St. James's. All low profile of course (even the Evening Post barely mentioned it and they like to trumpet everything local!) and not as well known as he wasn't involved in national fund raising in the same way as with Stoke Manderville.

Richard

[strang steel]

At that time, late 1970s/early 80s, I really did believe that electrified railways might have a 'second coming' in this country, but I bargained without the influence of Lady T Of Grantham.

Damn! and there was me thinking that the majority of the ECML was electrified between 1984 and 1991...you lives and you learns.....

Sorry, that was not quite what I meant, but I didn't word it very well.