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Sir Jimmy 'was no loner', says friend Howard Silverman | Sir Jimmy 'was no loner', says friend Howard Silverman |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Sir Jimmy Savile was "no loner", according to a close friend of the veteran broadcaster. | |
Sir Jimmy, who died at his home in Leeds on Saturday, was Howard Silverman's best man in 2009. | |
Mr Silverman, 59, 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 Leeds hairdresser, said he became a close friend of Sir Jimmy's after they met jogging on the streets of the city. | |
Cakes and whisky | |
"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. | 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 host's 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." | |
'Hilarious speech' | 'Hilarious speech' |
According to Mr Silverman, Sir Jimmy had seven homes across the UK including in Glencoe, Bournemouth and Scarborough and he had friends in all those places. | |
When Mr Silverman got married two years ago, 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. |
The veteran broadcaster didn't even touch the soup that he ordered and Mr Silverman had to ask if he was really all right. | |
Sir Jimmy said: "Of course, I'm fine." | Sir Jimmy said: "Of course, I'm fine." |