chuckmum6 Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 What a terrible state of affairs that is unfolding, there seems to increasingly be little doubt that he was a awful threat to children and has ruined many lives. I grew up watching Jim'll fix it, where he appeared yes, rather odd, but caring and interested in children, sadly this had a sinister motive, which seem to have continued unchecked. Were times really so different that he couldn't have been stopped? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 I admit that I've only listened with half an ear, but what I don't understand is how come it has only just come to light now he is dead? Is it that people in the BBC knew all along but "Ooops, word censored!"ody dared blow the whistle because he was such a 'star' (as well as such a money attracter)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 Thats what I found puzzling. Why has everyone suddenly come forward now he has died? Someone must have known about this and covered it up. It's all very strange Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 I've been thinking about this. Maybe the people he did this to, who perhaps thought that now he was dead they could get on with their lives, found that they got just sick and tired of hearing what a wonderful man he was? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 I think it's a combination of those things. I was wondering too, and came to the conclusion that once one person told their story, others felt strong enough to tell theirs too - no-one wanted to be the first to cast a stone. I heard from a friend in the Beeb that his behaviour was common knowledge, despite his saintly image outside the corporation, but that he hefted such menace and influence that no-one dared open their mouths for fear of their safety and jobs. That's a terrible situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Marple Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 I agree with what has been said already and wanted to add that I wondered if he had paid for silence too. not sure I should have just said that. I would have been a teenager then. Never liked him....ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 Good point Hazel. Keeping quiet about it would have been easier when he wasn't in the news all the time. Must admit I never liked him either - he reminded me too much of someone I used to know who definitely was a perv! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 I always found him a bit creepy too. I remember watching the Louis Theroux documentary about him and thinking that there was something very unsettling about him... a sort of sinister eccentricity. I think it must have been very hard for these women to come forwards with their experiences of him. He developed a kind of teflon coating because of his charity fund raising. It's utterly appalling to think that his behaviour was overlooked by those in positions of power and authority Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 I heard from a friend in the Beeb that his behaviour was common knowledge, despite his saintly image outside the corporation, but that he hefted such menace and influence that no-one dared open their mouths for fear of their safety and jobs. That's a terrible situation. I heard that too, and I doubt from the same source given our geographical distance! A rum state of affairs indeed......but as someone pointed out on the radio this pm...the late 60's and 70's were completely different to now, when women rarely reported rape to the police because they just wouldn't be taken seriously (I have a female friend who left the police force in the late 70s because she hated the way women were treated when they plucked up the courage to come forward)... I'd like to think things have improved now.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeky Chooky Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 I remember watching the Louis Theroux documentary about him and thinking that there was something very unsettling about him... a sort of sinister eccentricity. Yes, I thought so too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 It is a strange and very sad situation and no doubt a story with many sides. It looks like there will be other people who fall from grace over this too I was a teenager when he was presenting regularly on television and found him rather creepy too. It looks like he was a man of two faces, we can not deny what he did for charity and he wouldn't be the only person to have lived and been a complex mix of good and bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowberry Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 I always found him very creepy. When I see someone that creeps me out, I can't look at their face. Him especially. I love Louis Theroux & watch all his stuff, but couldn't watch the Saville one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 I couldn't abide him & he totally terrified one of my daughters (on TV) when she was young,so we just switched it over whenever he came on after that. We were not surprised by the allegations,but still shocked that it had been so well covered up. Makes you wonder if all his charity work was a way to try to keep his image clean,rather than something he actually wanted to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 It's actually a wonder to me how he was such a successful TV presenter. Discussing with my friends not one of us ever liked him on TV and found him creepy (I am in my 50's so have seen him ever since he started presenting) Maybe it's because there were a limited number of TV channels then so we just watched whatever was on? I found it very strange when he died that there was not one sound bite from a former colleague saying what a nice guy he was. The best that they came up with was that no-one really knew him and he did a lot of charity work. Obvious now why they were all so cagey as everyone seemed to know what he was up to. He must have had a lot of power somehow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 ..... He must have had a lot of power somehow. I am guessing but perhaps folks at the Beeb knew that if he was prosecuted, then a large group of other 'popular family presenters' would be outed too. Just think of the bad PR that would cause for the Corp; this way, it has been delayed by 30 years and I guess that some of those figures have retired, are less prominent or not such a draw for viewing figures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 Perhaps it was a case of lots of people suspecting (or knowing) individually, but not knowing collectively. Maybe each person didn't realise that other people had the same suspicions, and felt that either (a) they must be mistaken or (b) no one would believe them. Probably the same with the victims. They didn't think they would be believed; or they couldn't believe it themselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 Makes you wonder if all his charity work was a way to try to keep his image clean,rather than something he actually wanted to do. Looks like it probably was, it made him untouchable particularly at Stoke Mandeville. He always gave me the creeps as a kid, but I did, and still have a low tolerance for celebrities with a catchphrase or other tics/gimmicks so I wouldn't have liked him even if he hadn't given me the creeps. There's still cases where people don't listen to children though even today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 ....and still have a low tolerance for celebrities with a catchphrase or other tics/gimmicks so I wouldn't have liked him even if he hadn't given me the creeps. Me neither. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 Makes you wonder if all his charity work was a way to try to keep his image clean,rather than something he actually wanted to do. Looks like it probably was, it made him untouchable particularly at Stoke Mandeville. . . . There's still cases where people don't listen to children though even today He might have gone in for all the charity work to try and allay his own guilty feelings - a sort of Jeckle and Hyde business. I believe it is not uncommon for perves to go in heavily for charity work Also pedorasts are notoriously scheming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 As a nurse myself, I am listening with horror and dismay to tales of the nurses at Stoke Mandeville advising children to pretend to be asleep so he wouldn't bother them! Apparently he had a room there and frequently invited children back to his room. I'm speechless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 I have just heard that too and am shocked that no one came forward at the time, I appreciate that a lot of people were scared of losing their jobs etc. but I would have expected some people to rise above that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 I'm so shocked at what I'm hearing on radio 4 now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 As a nurse myself, I am listening with horror and dismay to tales of the nurses at Stoke Mandeville advising children to pretend to be asleep so he wouldn't bother them! Apparently he had a room there and frequently invited children back to his room. I'm speechless. I have just heard that too and am shocked that no one came forward at the time, I appreciate that a lot of people were scared of losing their jobs etc. but I would have expected some people to rise above that. I heard that too, but as a major benefactor and fundraiser for the hospital, I am betting that a lot of the board were prepared to turn a blind eye to any rumours about him, and the staff were to scared to report them. ................Only guessing and by no means condoning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 Snowy - as a nurse too I am shocked - I am 50 and was saying to OH I cant ever imagine as a student nurse or young staff nurse being taken seriously. Senior sisters and matrons words were law. I know of a few whistle blowers in the NHS who regretted bringing alergations about wrong doing to notice. However in recent times assuming he was still abusing I would have thought someone would have spoken up esp in this day and age. OH worked at Beeb albeit in other dept and never heard any rumours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yvonne Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 Whilst I agree with everyone else here about people not feeling able to come forward sooner for any number of reasons, I am surprised that not one of the victims did so when, for example Gary Glitter or Johnathon King fell from grace as the culture was definitely changing by then. If, as seems almost undeniable he really did all these things, it seems a huge shame that he was not confronted with it before his death which would have given the victims the opportunity to see him suffer loss of reputation and possibly freedom rather than die feeling he had "got away with it" leaving his family to pick up the pieces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
