A final Jim’ll Fix It, then farewell

FOR a character as flamboyant and determined as Sir Jimmy Savile death was merely the opportunity for one more Jim’ll Fix It.

After watching as the gold coffin was held aloft by an honour guard of Royal Marines, the thousands who attended the funeral of the veteran DJ and television personality yesterday were told how he left funds to establish a new medical centre.

The Leeds General Infirmary, where he once worked as a porter and devoted countless hours in charitable service, will now establish the Savile Institute, dedicated to reducing the risk of heart disease in Yorkshire, using a bequest from his will.

Addressing the packed pews of St Anne’s Cathedral, the Rt Rev Monsignor Kieran Heskin said: “Sir Jimmy Savile can face eternal life with confidence. His life story was an epic of giving – giving of time, giving of talent, giving of treasure.”

Outside, thousands watched the requiem Mass on big screens and listened as Alison Graham, of Stoke Mandeville Hospital, for which Sir Jimmy helped to raise millions of pounds, said: “He brought a little bit of magic and sparkle to everybody he met.”

Sir Jimmy’s golden coffin was carried into the packed cathedral by a detachment of Royal Marines commandos after the cortege toured his home city.

After leaving the Queens Hotel, where about 5,000 people turned out on Tuesday to pay their respects at his casket, the procession stopped at the former home of his mother, Agnes, and at Leeds General Infirmary, where hospital staff lined the street along with members of the public.

Thousands of people packed both sides of Cookridge Street behind barriers as the cortege approached the cathedral and broke into spontaneous applause as the cars pulled up. Calls of “Jimmy” rang out through the crowd as the pall bearers approached the steps.

Inside, the Rt Rev Arthur Roche, Bishop of Leeds, said: “Today Jimmy lies at the front of this cathedral where, in former years, he had remained discreetly hidden at the back in order not to disturb people’s prayers or distract their attention from what was taking place at the altar. This afternoon, he occupies the first place always in our thoughts, affections and prayers.”

One of the eulogies was given by Professor Alistair Hall – a cardiologist who became Sir Jimmy’s friend. Prof Hall announced a new hospital institute devoted to helping heart patients and it will be created using a bequest from Sir Jimmy’s will.

He said: “He had done it all, seen it all, got it all and, if I may add, given it all.”

Sir Jimmy’s nephew, Roger Foster, told the congregation he was “my friend, my mentor, my uncle”.

As the coffin left the cathedral, a bugler played Last Post.

Outside, the boxer Frank Bruno chatted to the public as they thronged outside the steps. “He was very special man,” he said. Among the other guests were many of the DJs Sir Jimmy worked with in his long career. Mike Read said: “Today should be a celebration. He’d have loved it – a showman to the end.”

Read delighted onlookers with some impressions of Sir Jimmy and showed off a Union flag card signed by the Bee Gees, who had also sent flowers.

A wreath in a second hearse which just carried flowers spelled out the number 208 – the frequency for Radio Luxembourg, where Sir Jimmy once worked.

Walter Jackson, a porter at Leeds General Infirmary, said: “He used to walk about and talk to everybody, it didn’t matter who it was. If someone was crying, he would go over.”

Sir Jimmy will be buried in Scarborough with a green beret presented to him by the Royal Marines in the 1970s.