Final Thoughts on Savile & More Volunteering

The extent of the alleged abuse perpetrated by Jimmy Savile has been made public in a report published today. Though we've known for some months of the crimes claimed to have been committed by the late presenter and personality, one cannot fail to be shocked by the details that have emerged. Jimmy Savile is dead and cannot answer for his crimes and it should be remembered that these are allegations and though there is no reason to doubt any of the testimonies, they cannot be proved.
Good has to come out of something like this. There have clearly been major failings that allowed the alleged abuse to carry on unchecked and unchallenged. The warnings voiced by certain individuals were ignored. The question being asked by so many people is 'why?'. It is difficult to understand how nothing was done, with the most recent opportunity lost in 2009 when the Crown Prosecution Service dropped a case against him, clearly failing in their duty.
Hopefully there will be a greater emphasis from now on to investigate rumours and allegations and to take children seriously.

This afternoon I responded to a plea sent out from SHINE Lincolnshire for volunteer PEAT (Patient Environment Action Team) inspectors. Apparently they are very short of volunteers, who's role it is to go visit inpatient hospital departments and inspect levels of cleanliness and hygiene among other things. As with most things nowadays, there is no reward apart from having expenses paid, but there's always the possibility of it leading to something more concrete.

I had my pre-diabetic clinic blood test this morning. I always have to take a wee sample with me which they check there and then. Unsurprisingly they found sugar in it so it's been sent off to be analysed at King's Lynn QEII Hospital. They very kindly booked me a diabetic clinic appointment for the 25th, a Friday. I expect I will be advised to move onto an injectable form of medication rather than the (many) tablets I currently take each day.

A Few Words on Jimmy Saville

I, like so many, have been shocked and saddened to hear the mounting evidence against Jimmy Saville with regards to abuse allegations stretching back many years. For me, I am filled with a sense of utter shock, dismay and a level of regret - that I had for so long regarded him a part of my childhood in the form of his TV shows during the 70's and 80's.
It is clear that the investigations into his conduct are discovering that the 70's and 80's were a different age and that acts such as those that have been reported were perhaps more common and widespread than we had imagined. The culture was different to today and I fear that there will be those apart from Jimmy Saville who will be worried for the outcome of the inquiries now taking place by both the police and the BBC.
It is such a shame that someone who had done so much good and held in such high esteem is now derided and viewed with such revulsion and anger.
So many questions need to be asked. Among them are why didn't anyone come forward earlier and why didn't the people who claim they knew report their concerns at the time?
There are many who should feel responsible for not doing the right thing and for allowing his conduct to continue in the way that it did. Either people were truly blind to what was going on, or they simply chose not to do anything about it. My personal feeling is that many people did know what was going on and are as guilty in not doing anything to prevent it. I am sure there will be many now who feel profound guilt for what went on, and one can only hope that the investigation will out all those who conspired to let it happen.