It was well known that the now disgraced DJ Jimmy Savile had connections with Scarborough over the years and he regularly featured in the Scarborough Evening News.

I met him on a couple of occasions and I have to admit I just thought he was a weird old man that I remember watching on Jim’ll Fix It when I was younger.

There were always rumours about his character circulating around newsrooms over the years but nothing could ever be proved.

When news broke of his death in October 2011 I was was working that Saturday and my editor’s response was typically over the top.

He wanted a 20 person Vox pop – where members of the public give their views on a subject – as well as tributes from other well-known locals. The headline for my article ended up as – Farewell to a legend.

He actually said this would be the biggest story of my career while conveniently forgetting that I had been in war torn Afghanistan just four years earlier which, in my opinion, was a much more important story than the death of a soon to be disgraced former DJ.

Obviously his funeral, almost a year later, attracted a lot of media attention and was complete with a three-part headstone.

He was buried at a 45° angle, so he could have a good view of the sea, and there were glowing tributes.

Then the damning TV documentary aired shortly afterwards and there was no doubt that he was resting in a much warmer place.

There were security patrols mounted just in case the grave was attacked and his headstone, which had a suspected typo, was quickly removed. I believe the body was moved to an unmarked grave and the gold plaque – which was placed outside his Scarborough flat – was also removed.

And he was also removed from the board showing the names of honorary freemen of the borough which he received in 2005. All within the space of just a few weeks.

Headstone ‘a fitting tribute to Sir Jimmy’

It would have measured only a few millimetres but a missing letter from Sir Jimmy Savile’s headstone sparked a global debate after it was unveiled in Scarborough.

The memorial was carved from the finest ebony black granite, was flanked by two side panels and spanned three plots at his final resting place in Woodlands Cemetery.

He was described as a “philanthropist, TV presenter, DJ, marathon runner, cyclist, wrestler” as well as the “chieftan of Lochaber Highland Games” – instead of chieftain.

However research has shown that when the entertainer’s belongings were sold at auction for charity one of his sporting trophies was listed with the same spelling – although it is still unclear whether it was a Scottish spelling or another misprint.

At the time of the installation Robert Morphet, the managing director of funeral director Joseph Hey and Son Ltd, said if there was a mistake it would be corrected – his company had donated the 18mm engraved gold lettering in recognition of all the good work Sir Jimmy had carried out during his lifetime.

But, speaking exclusively to the Scarborough News this week, he said it was the family’s wish that it should stay as it is. He added: “You can spell it either way.”

He said that when he had spoken to Roger Foster, one of the entertainer’s nephews, who had said “chieftan” was listed as an alternative spelling in the Oxford English Dictionary.

Mr Morphet added that is was spelled with the tan ending on the website of the highland games. “The committee has no problem with spelling it either way. The family is happy with the way it is. I wouldn’t have put a single letter on the stone without consent from the family.”

He said that when he realised the potential mistake he immediately ordered a replacement stone. “But the family asked me to cancel it – they said it was not wrong it’s just different.”

In a text from Allan Lindsay, the games’ secretary, he said that no one involved with the organisation was “offended or has any difficulty with the spelling”.

Mike Johnson, another of Sir Jimmy’s nephews, said that if it was a mistake his uncle would have seen the funny side and laughed. He added: “If it’s on a trophy then that is a good reference.”

He said that he thought the headstone was one of the most beautiful pieces of memorial art he had seen. “It’s a brilliant stone for a brilliant guy,” he said.

“Jimmy has chosen to become part and parcel of the permanent furniture of the landscape – it’s his way of saying this is his home.”

Fellow family members and friends assembled at Woodlands Cemetery to see the headstone installed where the star was buried last November.

Mr Foster told the small crowd, as the rain held off, that his uncle had even “fixed” the weather.

He added that he was also impressed with the headstone – which is also carved with the epitaph It was good while it lasted – and added that it could become a tourist attraction.

“I dare say soon there will be an ice cream stall and someone selling Jim’ll Fix It badges,” he said. “I think he’d be highly amused because there are one or two light-hearted little quips. I think he’d be amused at that.”

He said that it was nice that people had taken the time to visit the grave to pay their respects.

The grave is larger than the standard grave and takes up the plots on either side – so people could visit without walking on neighbouring graves.

Mr Foster, a 67-year-old former deputy head teacher from Goole, said: “If the last year is anything to go by I think it will go down very well. There have been so many messages of support from people who remember him in their own way. Here we are, a year on, and people have turned up today.”

He added that Sir Jimmy had been very proud of being a freeman of the borough. “As a family we feel this shows love and affection,” he said.

Howard Silverman, one of Sir Jimmy’s close friends from Leeds, said that it was a sad day but also a celebration of the DJ’s life.He said: “It’s the words he wanted. He used to joke about it when he was alive and say ‘I want it was good while it lasted’. He always thought he was immortal.”

Sir Jim was a close family friend of the Scarborough Corrigans and spent his Christmases with them. James Corrigan said that people had been coming from far and wide to visit the grave. He added: “Now they’ve actually got something to see – and it’s certainly something to see.”

He said that the unveiling had been deliberately kept low key at the request of the family.

The headstone consists of a centre panel with a bronze crucifix and two side panels, which are turned slightly towards the centre, and the whole construction rests on a dark grey granite plinth.

The back of the headstone has been inscribed with a verse by Julie Ferguson, another good friend of Sir Jim’s – the words refer to the view of the North and South Bays and encourage people to share the view.

Scarborough was one of the star’s favourite places

Jimmy Savile’s connection with Scarborough goes back many years. He fell in love with the town in the 1960s and his feelings were cemented when he bought a flat for his beloved mum at Wessex Court, Esplanade, way back in 1967.

He originally lived on a lower level but later bought the balcony apartment which is now for sale at an asking price of £175,000, including a garage – and with views as far as Flamborough Head. It is being marketed by Hunters estate agency of Scarborough.

Fact file:

• Sir Jimmy Savile was born in 1926 and was found dead at his Leeds flat on October 29 last year – just two days before his 85th birthday;
• A massive three-day funeral extravaganza followed, which showed a mass outpouring of public grief;
• The DJ and TV star’s funeral cortege brought crowds to a standstill in both the Leeds and Scarborough processions;
• The Leeds-born TV star was best known for hosting Jim’ll Fix It and for raising money for charity;
• On New Year’s Day, 1964, he presented the first edition of Top of the Pops;
• Sir Jimmy’s mother Agnes “The Duchess” is buried with his father Vincent in Killingbeck in Leeds but the family plot was full and it was Sir Jimmy’s wish to be buried in Scarborough;
• Earlier this year his prized Rolls-Royce Corniche convertible sold for £130,000 at auction, despite having an estimate of just £60,000;
• The auction of personal treasures exceeded the £250,000 estimate, netting even more for the good causes he supported;
• His Scarborough flat is being sold by his charitable foundation, The JS Trust, with a guide price of £175,000;
• The area opposite his balcony apartment is to be named Savile’s View in his honour.

Gilt plaque echoes performer’s bling

After his headstone was unveiled at Woodlands Cemetery a second ceremony was held to honour the memory of Sir Jimmy Savile.

A gilt plaque was unveiled by Scarborough’s deputy mayor, Cllr Andrew Backhouse, at the place in Wessex Court, in Esplanade, where he had his Scarborough flat.

Adrian Perry, chairman of Scarborough and District Civic Society, said that Sir Jimmy qualified for a blue plaque – but nominated figures must have been dead for 20 years. He said: “A gold plaque is a very fitting for Jimmy who loved bling.”

He added: “At the time of Jimmy Savile’s death there was a call for something to be done to commemorate the fact that he chose Scarborough to live and so here we are at this wonderful location with views that anyone would enjoy; to recognise and record the fact that Jimmy loved Scarborough and was here for many years.”

He said that it was decided to commemorate him as an entertainer and philanthropist. “Jimmy was an entertainer but he was much more than that and the word philanthropy we thought best captured Jimmy’s way of life,” he said.

“He will be remembered for his generosity towards charitable causes as well as his career in entertainment and this plaque is a small but important recognition of this and his long connection with Scarborough.”

Roger Foster, one of the star’s nephews, said it was an honour for his uncle to be remembered in such a way. The gilt-coloured plaque was only one of its kind.

On behalf of civic society, Mr Perry thanked James Corrigan for his part in the idea and also the Scarborough Sir Jimmy Memorial Group which includes James Corrigan, Malcolm Stephenson, Cllr David Jeffels, Penny Pacitto, Mavis Price (Sir Jim’s assistant), Ed Asquith, and Mr Perry.

Discussions are ongoing for a statue of Sir Jim in his Jim’ll Fix It chair, to be located at Scarborough South Bay.

Cllr Backhouse told the crowd at the plaque ceremony that he had first met Sir Jimmy at the age of seven when the star performed the opening ceremony at his parents’ business in Hull

A street sign for the Spa road opposite is to be named Savile’s View following suggestions put forward by readers of this newspaper.

From The Scarborough News on Thursday, September 27, 2012.

Savile to stay in Scarborough although status removed

Family members of disgraced celebrity Jimmy Savile have no plans to move his body from Scarborough after renewed calls this week for his exhumation.

Speaking at this week’s meeting of Scarborough Council Cllr Colin Haddington told fellow councillors that Savile’s presence at Woodlands Cemetery was upsetting for some of his constituents.

His comments came ahead of the vote to remove Savile’s name from the list of Honorary Freemen of the Borough – an honour bestowed by the council in 2005.

Speaking on behalf of Savile’s family funeral director Robert Morphet said they had been upset by Cllr Haddington’s comments and added: “I think this is a case of the councillor saying out loud what many people have been thinking, but I believe that most people think the cemetery should be left as it is.”

Mr Morphet said that the family’s opinion on exhumation had not changed and that there were no plans to remove his remains from Woodlands Cemetery and added: “I’m in touch with the family regularly and this is an extremely difficult time for them. I think it’s important to remember how they must be feeling.”

At the meeting when it was decided to take Sir Jim’s name off the Town Hall’s freeman scroll of honour, Cllr Tom Fox said: “This council wishes to send its heartfelt support to, and acknowledge the courage of, those who have come forward having suffered horrendous abuse at the hands of the alleged serial predatory sexual offender Sir Jimmy Savile.”

The move came after Savile was accused of abusing 300 alleged victims over six decades.

From The Scarborough News on Thursday, November 8, 2012.