By Tom Degun

jimmy-savileJanuary 17 - Stoke Mandeville Hospital, birthplace of the Paralympic Games, has removed all references and tributes to the late Sir Jimmy Savile from its premises following the revelations that television presenter and media personality was a serial paedophile.


Savile, who died last year at the age of 84, was a high-profile fundraiser for the hospital and raised more than £40 million ($64 million/€46 million) to its National Spinal Injuries Centre over several decades.

The contributions from the Jim'll Fix It star came after the Hospital was originally put on the map by German neurologist Sir Ludwig Guttmann, who founded the National Spinal Injuries Centre in 1944 and then organised the first Stoke Mandeville Games in 1948 to help with the rehabilitation of injured patients.

The competition was the precursor to the first ever Paralympics in Rome in 1960.

But following the shocking revelations that Savile sexually abused a huge number of children, including on the premises of the hospital, his memory has been comprehensively erased from the corridors of the facility.

The Stoke Mandeville Hospital café previously known as Jimmy's (pictured top) has now had its name and signs removed while a gilded plaque which once indicated the door to Savile's VIP suite in the hospital, from where he had a chilling view of a children's playground, has also been torn down.

Stoke Mandeville hospital picA sign for Jimmy’s, the cafe named after the sick star, has been painted over at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital

The hospital have urged anyone with any further information of Savile's illegal activities on its premises to get involved with the Speaking Out Investigation, which is being led by independent investigator Dr Androulla Johnstone.

"The investigation is serious and complex and is currently reviewing files and records from the last forty years before it moves on to meeting and hearing from witnesses," said Stoke Mandeville Hospital chief executive Anne Eden.

"We expect it to complete the investigatory part of the work by the summer, and to complete the report by the end of 2013."

"As the investigation's name suggests, it is very keen to hear from anybody with any knowledge that they feel could help its work or anybody that needs support because of Jimmy Savile's alleged behaviour.

"I would urge anyone with information to contact the investigation team so that they can record it, offer support and investigate what happened."

Full details of the Speaking Out Investigation can be found by clicking here

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