Michael Gove ordered a report from Islington
‘What is clear is that neither these victims nor any others have much trust in Islington Council coming clean with the name of the home where abuse took place as requested by Mr Gove.. (Jimmy Savile sex abuse: ‘Islington is still covering up’. Eileen Fairweather. Telegraph 06.04.14)
Islington Survivor, Demetrious Panton, told both journalists that he would be willing to talk to an independent body but would not engage with the borough of Islington. He said that there were a lot of individuals he knew, abuse survivors, who have not yet contacted Islington or the police about what they know and that there was a real lack of trust. The Tribune reported that the council Director of Children’s Services, Eleanor Schooling, had been asked by the Department for Education to oversee the investigation. ‘She will appoint an experienced, independent professional from outside the council to lead it and would submit a draft report to Lucy Scott-Moncrieff who had been appointed by the Department for Education to write the Independent Report‘. It is not known who Schooling commissioned but it is certain that person had no contact with survivors from Islington Survivors Network who could have assisted that report
‘Gove ordered Islington to investigate information uncovered in the historic police inquiry which links Savile to children’s homes in the borough in the 1960s, 70s and 80s... Former abuse victims say they have no trust in the Town Hall which has ‘lost’ all the records, and would only speak to an independent inquiry’ (Islington child abuse victim. ‘Why I won’t talk to the Town Hall inquiry into Jimmy Savile link’ Andrew Johnston. Tribune. 11.04.14)
Eileen Fairweather reported that Education Secretary Michael Gove had identified 21 special schools and children’s homes in which Savile preyed on children. Gove had named most of them but said the specific Islington home had not been identified.
Yet, the Government commissioned report published in 2015 by Lucy Scott-Moncrieff named Sheringham Road as a home that Savile was not involved with.
When ISN asked the council about the government commissioned investigation the managers said it was all a big mistake. However ISN wonder why any mention would be made of Sheringham Road at all in that case? Also questions asked of Education Minister Martin Howarth in an email (9.4.2016) gained no response.
Dr Liz Davies, Coordinator of ISN, letter to the government Minister for Education responsible for the Report.
Evidence from ISN survivors
ISN conclude that Savile did have some connection to at least 7 Islington children’s homes
Eileen Fairweather, in her article, mentions a claim by, ‘three traumatised women who once lived in a now-notorious Islington children’s home. The man was allowed to take them for ‘outings’ to the park and an Islington worker’s nearby flat. there he allegedly abused them while the others were forced to watch. The youngest was 5. The man is also suspected of procuring little girls from the home for Jimmy Savile.’
Two children in Colgrain children’s home had reported abuse by Jimmy Savile. The children were taken on a trip to ‘Top of the Pops’. One ISN survivor was a child who was left behind and was told there was not a ticket for her. She told ISN that 5 girls and 1 boy from Colgrain went on this outing and they were between age 13 and 16 years old. Later after the show, she had told one of the girls that she had been so lucky to go to this show, but the girl told her to ‘shut up‘ and said that Savile liked to ‘put his hand up the girl’s skirts‘ and he also ‘really liked to stick his tongue down your throat‘. She also said he ‘stank’. Another girl also told her that ‘he likes to put his hands in places‘ and was ‘disgusting‘. The survivor said that everyone at that time loved Jimmy Savile and after she heard what had happened she never watched that programme again.
Savile taxis and Sunshine holidays
From 8 of the survivor’s files and interviews, ISN has learnt about the Savile Taxi outings which took place every year when a hundred London taxis took about 300 children to the seaside for a day out (The Times, 28th February 1973) These events are reported by survivors from Conewood St and Elwood St 1974-6, Elwood Street in 1966, Grosvenor Avenue from 1972-6, Sheringham Road in 1974 and Gisburne House in 1973 & 1977. Survivors describe the ‘Slide Parties’ held at the Kursaal Amusement Centre in Southend.
‘We went to a place where the children were given loads of presents and toys. Sat at tables with men. We had to sit on their knees and get kissed. I was kissed by Savile. Went in a convoy. 3 course meal. Remember Savile coming to taxi – clunk click.‘ ISN Survivor
Savile is also mentioned by a survivor in relation to 4 homes (Conewood, Grosvenor Avenue, Highbury Crescent and Sheringham Rd ) which were said to have sent children on the Variety Club Sunshine holidays. There are no Islington child abuse allegations related to these Sunshine holidays although some were reported elsewhere. (ITV News, 13th October 2012)
Outings organised by children’s homes to some of Jimmy Savile’s TV programmes were also described by some survivors. In 1979 a survivor told ISN that children from Conewood St and Grosvenor Avenue were taken to the filming of Jim ‘ll Fix it. One survivor from Widbury in 1977 said Savile visited the home and children from Widbury and Colgrain went to Top of the Pops. Keith Harding, a member of the Paedophile Information Exchange who lived in Hornsey Road, appeared alongside Savile on a Christmas edition of Jim’ll Fix It and the child later told press what had actually happened for this event to be televised (The Express, 10th May 2015).
An Islington Gazette article from 1990 shows Savile opening a centre for adults with learning disabilities.
Islington Survivors Network 