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Original poster

Encounter with Jimmy Saville on school trip - who do I tell?

120 replies

Justalittlebitblondie · 21/11/2023 19:53

I need your hive brains! I had an encounter with Jimmy Saville when I was nine - nothing as bad is could have been - hugging, stroking my hair and telling me how beautiful I was. I was completely freaked out and remember recoiling. It was on an outdoor activity trip organised by the school (state). The teachers saw, laughed and I was teased about it later by them. I have decided to tell the Council as feel need to have reported it. They are not interested as it is over 12 months ago - so who do I tell?

OP posts:
AllEars112232 · 21/11/2023 20:28

What's your reason for wanting to tell an authority
Narrowing that down might help find an answer to your question.

Kedece2410 · 21/11/2023 20:37

What do you hope to achieve by reporting it to the council etc. Presumably the teachers have since retired. I cant see what the point would be now.

MarieG10 · 22/11/2023 06:39

Saville is long dead and in any event what you describe wouldn't have led to anything. If disturbed still, perhaps some counselling?

YellowDots · 22/11/2023 06:45

The police.

That's who I would tell. You can report historic abuse. It's not for anyone else to decide whether you report anything or not, that's a decision that only you can make.

FredaFox · 22/11/2023 06:59

As distressing as it was, what law did he break?
What are you hoping to achieve?
Yew tree was years ago, you had ample opportunity to speak up then.
as a pp says, maybe try counselling

crackfoxy · 22/11/2023 07:02

A counsellor would be your best bet

Soontobe60 · 22/11/2023 07:04

You can tell whoever you want but nothing will happen. A dead person can’t be prosecuted. What you describe may well not be considered appropriate in today’s climate, but at the time it happened it was seen as fine. I doubt that even if it happened now it wouldn’t meet the threshold of needing any action taking - a hug, stroking hair and telling someone she’s beautiful.

LoudSnoringDog · 22/11/2023 07:06

Why do you need to tell anyone at all? You’ve highlighted no law broken. What’s to be gained?

MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 22/11/2023 07:09

I’m sorry this happened, but what were you expecting the Council to do?

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 22/11/2023 07:11

I'm sorry that this happened to you, OP.

What are you hoping to achieve by reporting it now? Would counselling help?

User56785 · 22/11/2023 07:16

The report was literally called 'Giving Victims a Voice'. For some reason they didn't go with the titles of

'You can tell whoever you want but nothing will happen'

Or

'Yew tree was years ago, you had ample opportunity to speak up then.'

Or

'Saville is long dead and in any event what you describe wouldn't have led to anything'

There wouldn't have been an operation Yewtree or a Giving Victims a Voice if nobody said anything,

You can still report Savile to the NSPCC if you want to.

Totaly · 22/11/2023 07:19

I doubt the police would take you seriously.

To be honest I think you are more upset about the teachers teasing?

Maybe get some counseling.

TheJabberwocky · 22/11/2023 07:24

Some of the posters on this thread need to look at themselves. I’m sorry this happened to you and I’m sorry about some of the blasé reactions you’ve had on here.
I’m extremely disgusted about your teachers reaction.

I don’t think there are any authorities that you can discuss at this stage but given the teachers reaction I can understand why you would be angry and hoping to voice that. I think that potentially some counselling might be a good idea to help you put it to bed. it’s a horrible experience for a 9 year old, thankfully it ended where it did.

DollyPlastic · 22/11/2023 07:26

I had very similar with that man when I was in hospital. I can't see what I would gain from telling anyone official.

User56785 · 22/11/2023 07:28

*I doubt the police would take you seriously.

To be honest I think you are more upset about the teachers teasing? *

Will you be releasing a pamphlet of things people are allowed to be upset about in the amounts and orders they are permitted to be upset?

If I became aware that I had been stroked by a child rapist when I was nine years old, I think I would feel upset.

smilesup · 22/11/2023 07:31

By putting on here you have highlighted it to 1000s of people. Some of those people will be teachers/carers and your post might make them not dismiss this sort of behaviour and fob off children.

Soshitatgifts · 22/11/2023 07:31

I can’t believe how cruelly and ignorantly dismissive some posters are! Yes Savile’s dead, but you still need to be heard! NSPCC is probably your best first contact, at the very least they’d be able to signpost you if they can’t help. Sorry you experienced that vile man

CandyLeBonBon · 22/11/2023 07:33

I think op is more concerned that the teachers involved were complicit and there was a safeguarding concern.
Op are these teachers retired now? You have every right to feel upset and it's awful that those teachers stood by and let that happen. A lot of people were fooled by him unfortunately.

What outcome would you be hoping for? Sorry it's still causing you upset. These things just don't disappear, do they?

TheJabberwocky · 22/11/2023 07:33

Soontobe60 · 22/11/2023 07:04

You can tell whoever you want but nothing will happen. A dead person can’t be prosecuted. What you describe may well not be considered appropriate in today’s climate, but at the time it happened it was seen as fine. I doubt that even if it happened now it wouldn’t meet the threshold of needing any action taking - a hug, stroking hair and telling someone she’s beautiful.

I think most people would take this behaviour very fucking seriously. They may not be prosecuted but I think most teachers would separate such a man from children’s and report the behaviour.

Stop minimising the OPs feelings. She is more than entitled to feel disgusted and angry at being assaulted by a known abuser when she was nine years old whilst her teachers looked on and laughed.

ALittleTeawithmilk · 22/11/2023 07:35

User56785 · 22/11/2023 07:16

The report was literally called 'Giving Victims a Voice'. For some reason they didn't go with the titles of

'You can tell whoever you want but nothing will happen'

Or

'Yew tree was years ago, you had ample opportunity to speak up then.'

Or

'Saville is long dead and in any event what you describe wouldn't have led to anything'

There wouldn't have been an operation Yewtree or a Giving Victims a Voice if nobody said anything,

You can still report Savile to the NSPCC if you want to.

Good post.

YellowDots · 22/11/2023 07:38

Totaly · 22/11/2023 07:19

I doubt the police would take you seriously.

To be honest I think you are more upset about the teachers teasing?

Maybe get some counseling.

Let's hope nothing happens to your own children then.

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 22/11/2023 07:39

I can completely understand why this would upset you.

I’m not sure the best person to report to but some of the other PPs seem to have good suggestions. However, I do also agree with getting some counselling to help you through it. Not to dismiss what you have gone through at all but to help you move passed it when it was done by a celebrity that people still mention today. That must be really hard.

Not the same at all but I found out my friend’s dad was arrested and convicted of trying to solicit sex from a 14yo. I was friends with her from 11 to about 16 and went to many many sleepovers at her house. I remember nothing odd about her dad’s behaviour but it still makes me feel uncomfortable to know I was in a vulnerable position with someone who turned out to be a paedophile.

FizzyLaser · 22/11/2023 07:39

smilesup · 22/11/2023 07:31

By putting on here you have highlighted it to 1000s of people. Some of those people will be teachers/carers and your post might make them not dismiss this sort of behaviour and fob off children.

PLease the teachers are retired by now. Or the oldest in the world

YellowDots · 22/11/2023 07:39

I'm honestly horrified by some of the things being said on this thread.

People, most of them probably mothers, telling her that it doesn't matter.

napody · 22/11/2023 07:42

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 22/11/2023 07:39

I can completely understand why this would upset you.

I’m not sure the best person to report to but some of the other PPs seem to have good suggestions. However, I do also agree with getting some counselling to help you through it. Not to dismiss what you have gone through at all but to help you move passed it when it was done by a celebrity that people still mention today. That must be really hard.

Not the same at all but I found out my friend’s dad was arrested and convicted of trying to solicit sex from a 14yo. I was friends with her from 11 to about 16 and went to many many sleepovers at her house. I remember nothing odd about her dad’s behaviour but it still makes me feel uncomfortable to know I was in a vulnerable position with someone who turned out to be a paedophile.

Good advice.

I also think that, if the teachers are still alive, they remember this with a cold dread and some serious guilt. Sadly, everyone laughed his behaviour off. That's how he got away with it. And your post is a reminder that for you and all of his poor victims that will have added to their feeling that the world was an unsafe and cruel place.