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| Sir Jimmy 'was no loner', says friend Howard Silverman | Sir Jimmy 'was no loner', says friend Howard Silverman |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Sir Jimmy Savile was "no loner", according to a close friend of the veteran broadcaster was best man for. | Sir Jimmy Savile was "no loner", according to a close friend of the veteran broadcaster was best man for. |
| Howard Silverman, 59, was talking after Sir Jimmy died at his home in Leeds, on Saturday. | Howard Silverman, 59, was talking after Sir Jimmy died at his home in Leeds, on Saturday. |
| Mr Silverman said those who claimed the 84-year-old did not mix with people when the cameras were off "didn't know him". | Mr Silverman said those who claimed the 84-year-old did not mix with people when the cameras were off "didn't know him". |
| A book of condolence to Sir Jimmy has been set up in Savile's Hall, opposite the Royal Armouries Museum in the city. | A book of condolence to Sir Jimmy has been set up in Savile's Hall, opposite the Royal Armouries Museum in the city. |
| Mr Silverman, a city hairdresser, said he became a close friend of Sir Jimmy's after they met jogging on the streets of Leeds. | Mr Silverman, a city hairdresser, said he became a close friend of Sir Jimmy's after they met jogging on the streets of Leeds. |
| Friends' club | Friends' club |
| "All his pals, everyone of them, were just like me - an ordinary geezer," he said. | "All his pals, everyone of them, were just like me - an ordinary geezer," he said. |
| He and Sir Jimmy used to "laugh at the stories people came out with" in the media. | He and Sir Jimmy used to "laugh at the stories people came out with" in the media. |
| Talking to BBC Radio Leeds, Mr Silverman said that every Friday morning Sir Jimmy held what was known as the FMC, or Friday Morning Club, at his flat. | |
| Friends of Sir Jimmy would be invited to go to his flat and sit around a big table laden with tea, cakes and whisky. | Friends of Sir Jimmy would be invited to go to his flat and sit around a big table laden with tea, cakes and whisky. |
| Enveloped in the hosts' cigar smoke the old friends would reminisce and chat the morning away. | Enveloped in the hosts' cigar smoke the old friends would reminisce and chat the morning away. |
| Mr Silverman said: "If you saw that no one would say he didn't have pals." | Mr Silverman said: "If you saw that no one would say he didn't have pals." |
| 'Hilarious speech' | 'Hilarious speech' |
| According to Mr Silverman, Sir Jimmy had seven homes across the UK including Glencoe, Bournemouth and Scarborough and he had friends in all those places. | According to Mr Silverman, Sir Jimmy had seven homes across the UK including Glencoe, Bournemouth and Scarborough and he had friends in all those places. |
| When two years ago, Mr Silverman got married he asked Sir Jimmy to be his best man but told him not to turn up in one of the tracksuits that had become his trademark. | When two years ago, Mr Silverman got married he asked Sir Jimmy to be his best man but told him not to turn up in one of the tracksuits that had become his trademark. |
| Sir Jimmy took him at his word and duly arrived in a suit, before giving a "wonderful" and "hilarious" speech. | Sir Jimmy took him at his word and duly arrived in a suit, before giving a "wonderful" and "hilarious" speech. |
| Mr Silverman saw Sir Jimmy last Wednesday, when they went for a meal at pub near Sir Jimmy's flat in Roundhay, Leeds. | Mr Silverman saw Sir Jimmy last Wednesday, when they went for a meal at pub near Sir Jimmy's flat in Roundhay, Leeds. |
| Sir Jimmy didn't even touch the soup that he ordered and Mr Silverman had to ask if he was really alright. | Sir Jimmy didn't even touch the soup that he ordered and Mr Silverman had to ask if he was really alright. |
| Sir Jimmy said: "Of course, I'm fine." | Sir Jimmy said: "Of course, I'm fine." |