It struck me years ago, as I
read the collection of short stories within the lurid cover of
“Ecstasy” that a certain character in one of the stories bore
more than a passing resemblance to a real person. A very famous
television personality in fact.
The short story concerned -
“Lorraine Goes to Livingstone” features many things –
novelists, bi curious nurses, but what sears the memory like a
psychic brand over the 20 odd years since I last read the book, is
the character of Freddy Royle.
Freddy is an Adge Cutlerish
Somerset TV personality, presenter of a show that makes dreams come
true for children amongst others and trustee and charitable sponsor
of a major London hospital, has a dark side indeed. It is described
by Welsh how the wriggling of a young girl on his lap had caused
Royle a rather sticky afternoon, but this is nothing indeed compared
to what he gets up to in the hospital mortuary, where he pays off
staff to turn a blind eye to his favourite activity; having sex with
the dead...
Sound a little familiar?
Amidst the depravity, a new
coroner arrives at the hospital, and begins to investigate why some
of the corpses are stained with semen and bruised around the anus.
Well, this will never do! Freddy and the hospital's top administrator
conspire to kidnap the coroner, shoot him full of muscle relaxant,
and film him being penetrated by a prostitute with a strap on, this
blackmail ensuring all their secrets will never come to light.
Hmmmmmmmm.
It all must be pure
coincidence, of course! Welsh himself has neither confirmed nor
denied that Savile was the inspiration for the Freddy Royle
character, but to me, this is that word that you use when people do
that...um...dissimulattion!
To me, there must have been
stories freely circulating abbout Savile's proclivities in certain
circles. But his celebrity and financial power prevented them from
coming into the light. But who else was bought off? I doubt it
stopped at hospital workers...
Copyright Bloody Mulberry 27.06.14
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