This is a very difficult book
to read as I like many thought warmly of Jimmy Savile for so many years, and
can you blame us? Here was a man who from such humble and hard working
beginnings led an extraordinary life. From his early years as a miner (and I
use that word with trepidation ) his short spell as a wrestler, his love of
marathon running, his virtual creation of the British TV institute “Top of the Pops” and his equally electrifying
Jim’ll fix it, a programme that for so many years was at the heart of BBC Saturday
night entertainment. Then there was his memorable road safety ads, the famous
clunk-click phrase followed by his equally renowned promotion of British Rail “This
is the age of the train” He was friends to the powerful and famous, Prince
Charles, Margaret Thatcher (who fought for years to obtain his OBE) and even
the late Princess Diana sought him out so eager were they to ask his advice and
be seen in his company....but against this all and against the charity money he
raised was a monster of a man who used his position of celebrity to sexually
abuse and destroy the lives of so many.
In Plain Sight by Dan
Davies is a monumental book and a compulsive colourful and chilling read. This
is a book that was researched for many years and over the course of that time
Davies interviewed and spoke with Savile on numerous occasions, yet he always
felt that there was a dark untold side to this seemingly affable gent.....and
how right he was. It is with great sadness that Savile was not exposed during
his lifetime and that those who were abused had not the courage to come forward
(or indeed if they did were not believed) at an earlier time. Society and our
obsession with celebrity must bear so much of the responsibility and blame for
we kept this vile individual on a pedestal for so long even thought the crimes
that he committed were done....in plain sight.....
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