At one time he was the figurehead of the Manchester Taxi outings, where they took handicapped children to Blackpool for days out, and collected money for various charities and organisations.
Saville, being quite a celeb locally, would take all the glory, but did sod all to help...so they got rid of him.
As far as I know none of the committee organisers knew of his crimes, they just didn't like or want his association. People in authority knew for decades, God knows why nothing was done.
Magica said
Dec 13 2:22 PM, 2025
Syl wrote:
/\ It's not in hindsite either.
At one time he was the figurehead of the Manchester Taxi outings, where they took handicapped children to Blackpool for days out, and collected money for various charities and organisations. Saville, being quite a celeb locally, would take all the glory, but did sod all to help...so they got rid of him.
As far as I know none of the committee organisers knew of his crimes, they just didn't like or want his association. People in authority knew for decades, God knows why nothing was done.
He must have had things on them to get away with it.
Many did know but turned a blind eye. Disgusting people, they allowed this creature to continue!
Syl said
Dec 13 6:50 PM, 2025
Magica wrote:
Syl wrote:
/\ It's not in hindsite either.
At one time he was the figurehead of the Manchester Taxi outings, where they took handicapped children to Blackpool for days out, and collected money for various charities and organisations. Saville, being quite a celeb locally, would take all the glory, but did sod all to help...so they got rid of him.
As far as I know none of the committee organisers knew of his crimes, they just didn't like or want his association. People in authority knew for decades, God knows why nothing was done.
He must have had things on them to get away with it.
Many did know but turned a blind eye. Disgusting people, they allowed this creature to continue!
Morally corrupt. I believe many people who hold high authority are there because they are corrupt, they wouldn't be there if they were not.
But I will never understand why so many NHS workers kept quiet. Nurses and porters, Dr's and admin in various hospitals, gave him access to the most vulnerable, old and young, and even dead.
Magica said
Dec 13 7:17 PM, 2025
Syl wrote:
Magica wrote:
Syl wrote:
/\ It's not in hindsite either.
At one time he was the figurehead of the Manchester Taxi outings, where they took handicapped children to Blackpool for days out, and collected money for various charities and organisations. Saville, being quite a celeb locally, would take all the glory, but did sod all to help...so they got rid of him.
As far as I know none of the committee organisers knew of his crimes, they just didn't like or want his association. People in authority knew for decades, God knows why nothing was done.
He must have had things on them to get away with it.
Many did know but turned a blind eye. Disgusting people, they allowed this creature to continue!
Morally corrupt. I believe many people who hold high authority are there because they are corrupt, they wouldn't be there if they were not.
But I will never understand why so many NHS workers kept quiet. Nurses and porters, Dr's and admin in various hospitals, gave him access to the most vulnerable, old and young, and even dead.
They were told they would lose their jobs maybe? I don't know, but I do know nothing would have shut me up! I could never have turned a blind eye.
Makes me feel angry
I'm so sad for this ugly creatures victims!
Syl said
Dec 13 7:23 PM, 2025
I know many did report him and were ignored, but many others kept quiet.
Like you, I would rather lose my job than say nothing when I knew young kids and vulnerable people were being sexually abused. And God knows how families of the dead felt when they were told he had private access to the morgues where their loved ones lay.
Magica said
Dec 13 8:49 PM, 2025
Syl wrote:
I know many did report him and were ignored, but many others kept quiet. Like you, I would rather lose my job than say nothing when I knew young kids and vulnerable people were being sexually abused. And God knows how families of the dead felt when they were told he had private access to the morgues where their loved ones lay.
John Lydon reported him in the 1970's, and was banned by BBC.
BBC is a nest for paedophiles, why can't it be closed down! 😠
Digger said
Dec 15 11:39 AM, 2025
I wish more people knew the true story of the lady labelled the "Ugliest Woman in the World."" Mary Ann Webster was born in London in 1874, and for the first half of her life, she lived an ordinary life. The pretty young girl became a nurse, married Thomas Bevan in 1903, and together, they had four children. Though they weren't wealthy, they were happy. But tragedy struck in 1914 when her husband died unexpectedly, leaving her in debt with four children to feed. This was a time when the country was suffering from the hardships of World War I. To make matters worse, Mary Ann began to show symptoms of a rare disease called acromegaly. This hormonal disorder caused painful, abnormal growths on her face, hands, and feet, deforming her features. In an unenlightened time, she became an object of ridicule and disgust. She lost her job and feared her children would end up in a poor house. Desperate to provide for her family, Mary Ann entered an "Ugliest Woman" contest. She won and was able to pay her debts by working in circuses and sideshows in England. Before long, she was touring internationally, even headlining in the Coney Island freak shows in New York. Despite being able to support her children, her daily life was a constant humiliation. From morning till night, she was publicly mocked and exploited, forced to endure the cruel jeers of strangers who saw her as the embodiment of feminine shame. Mary Ann Bevan continued to provide for her family with work in sideshows until her death in 1933. When I look at her story, I see dignity, courage, and sacrifice. Her challenging life held up a mirror to a cruel and superficial side of humanity. That bestial streak, lacking compassion and understanding for those who suffer from disabilities. And it is that face which is truly ugly.
I wish more people knew the true story of the lady labelled the "Ugliest Woman in the World."" Mary Ann Webster was born in London in 1874, and for the first half of her life, she lived an ordinary life. The pretty young girl became a nurse, married Thomas Bevan in 1903, and together, they had four children. Though they weren't wealthy, they were happy. But tragedy struck in 1914 when her husband died unexpectedly, leaving her in debt with four children to feed. This was a time when the country was suffering from the hardships of World War I. To make matters worse, Mary Ann began to show symptoms of a rare disease called acromegaly. This hormonal disorder caused painful, abnormal growths on her face, hands, and feet, deforming her features. In an unenlightened time, she became an object of ridicule and disgust. She lost her job and feared her children would end up in a poor house. Desperate to provide for her family, Mary Ann entered an "Ugliest Woman" contest. She won and was able to pay her debts by working in circuses and sideshows in England. Before long, she was touring internationally, even headlining in the Coney Island freak shows in New York. Despite being able to support her children, her daily life was a constant humiliation. From morning till night, she was publicly mocked and exploited, forced to endure the cruel jeers of strangers who saw her as the embodiment of feminine shame. Mary Ann Bevan continued to provide for her family with work in sideshows until her death in 1933. When I look at her story, I see dignity, courage, and sacrifice. Her challenging life held up a mirror to a cruel and superficial side of humanity. That bestial streak, lacking compassion and understanding for those who suffer from disabilities. And it is that face which is truly ugly.
I read about her. Such a crying shame this happened to this pretty woman. Becoming a sideshow freak to.make money to feed her kids.
What a brave woman to do this, accept ridicule, laughed at, for money.
I always felt sorry for her.
Syl said
Dec 15 7:45 PM, 2025
I had never heard of her, but it's a really heartbreaking story. I hope her descendants realise what a beautiful soul she was.
God knows how much worse it would be today with social media.
Syl said
Dec 18 11:49 AM, 2025
Pause for thought...
Do you think you will leave this world a happier place than you entered it?
Not only the outside world, but the one you have created in your time here.
Magica said
Dec 18 12:00 PM, 2025
Syl wrote:
Pause for thought...
Do you think you will leave this world a happier place than you entered it? Not only the outside world, but the one you have created in your time here.
Not the outside world, but yes.I think I will with my family. Done all I can for them all, so like to think it's enabled them to a better life,.
Syl said
Dec 19 12:04 AM, 2025
Magica wrote:
Syl wrote:
Pause for thought...
Do you think you will leave this world a happier place than you entered it? Not only the outside world, but the one you have created in your time here.
Not the outside world, but yes.I think I will with my family. Done all I can for them all, so like to think it's enabled them to a better life,.
We came after WW2, but I think the after effects were still being felt by the adults around us.
In this country at least, people began to either mix or keep to themselves, Blacks, Jews and indigenous Brits got on, I don't recall any trouble between different groups....the troubles were mainly white on white, teddy boys, mods, rockers usually youngsters.
I would say the world now is in a worse place.
My world....I agree with you. I hope I leave behind a happy family, it's the most important thing to have contributed in the making of them.
Anonymous said
Dec 19 5:29 PM, 2025
More nostalgia, this time from the 50s, my generation. I sat here nodding "yes I remember that..." I don't agree that we were the toughest and most resilient, as I feel my parents had it tougher and theirs before them.
So many memories brought back today...the fashion of the day (kids and adults); bananas being like gold dust and a real treat; walking to school and sitting in class with coats on, knees frozen, shivering away; street races of homemade go-karts (we called them "steeries"); hopscotch outlines everywhere: lads in knitted balaclavas jousting with metal bin lids and old fence posts as swords; and oh my God endless chilblains; loose ciggies sold as "looseys" (my brothers not me); the dentist pain; excitement getting a b/w tv; no memory of seeing overweight kids/adults...
One of the things I distinctly remember is the respect we had for teachers, doctors, police officers and adults in general, oh and good manners. Both were a given.
I now find myself saying "when I was a kid" just as my parents did.
As hard as it was at times I wouldn't want to be born into today's world.
Magica said
Dec 19 8:16 PM, 2025
Anonymous wrote:
More nostalgia, this time from the 50s, my generation. I sat here nodding "yes I remember that..." I don't agree that we were the toughest and most resilient, as I feel my parents had it tougher and theirs before them.
So many memories brought back today...the fashion of the day (kids and adults); bananas being like gold dust and a real treat; walking to school and sitting in class with coats on, knees frozen, shivering away; street races of homemade go-karts (we called them "steeries"); hopscotch outlines everywhere: lads in knitted balaclavas jousting with metal bin lids and old fence posts as swords; and oh my God endless chilblains; loose ciggies sold as "looseys" (my brothers not me); the dentist pain; excitement getting a b/w tv; no memory of seeing overweight kids/adults...
One of the things I distinctly remember is the respect we had for teachers, doctors, police officers and adults in general, oh and good manners. Both were a given.
I now find myself saying "when I was a kid" just as my parents did.
As hard as it was at times I wouldn't want to be born into today's world.
I remember so much as a kid, and loved it. I think we had the best childhood, fun, playing outside, safe as houses. I hate the times now.
Syl said
Dec 20 12:27 PM, 2025
/\ Lovely times, very hard, but as kids we didn't realise that. NO meant no, and we heard that a lot because there was little money about. I don't think we felt poor though, because everyone around us was the same.
Todays kids have it so much easier in monetary terms, I doubt they appreciate how much they do have, including home comforts...something the older generations certainly didn't have.
No doubt when they are old, they too will look back on their childhoods and remember how happy they were, that's the way of the world.
Magica said
Dec 20 6:09 PM, 2025
Syl wrote:
/\ Lovely times, very hard, but as kids we didn't realise that. NO meant no, and we heard that a lot because there was little money about. I don't think we felt poor though, because everyone around us was the same.
Todays kids have it so much easier in monetary terms, I doubt they appreciate how much they do have, including home comforts...something the older generations certainly didn't have.
No doubt when they are old, they too will look back on their childhoods and remember how happy they were, that's the way of the world.
I dunno Syl, they will never have the freedom we had. Now it's all wifi, computers, phones, not playing out. Knocking for your mates. I feel they missed out tbh.
At one time he was the figurehead of the Manchester Taxi outings, where they took handicapped children to Blackpool for days out, and collected money for various charities and organisations.
Saville, being quite a celeb locally, would take all the glory, but did sod all to help...so they got rid of him.
As far as I know none of the committee organisers knew of his crimes, they just didn't like or want his association. People in authority knew for decades, God knows why nothing was done.
He must have had things on them to get away with it.
Many did know but turned a blind eye. Disgusting people, they allowed this creature to continue!
Morally corrupt. I believe many people who hold high authority are there because they are corrupt, they wouldn't be there if they were not.
But I will never understand why so many NHS workers kept quiet. Nurses and porters, Dr's and admin in various hospitals, gave him access to the most vulnerable, old and young, and even dead.
They were told they would lose their jobs maybe? I don't know, but I do know nothing would have shut me up! I could never have turned a blind eye.
Makes me feel angry
I'm so sad for this ugly creatures victims!
Like you, I would rather lose my job than say nothing when I knew young kids and vulnerable people were being sexually abused. And God knows how families of the dead felt when they were told he had private access to the morgues where their loved ones lay.
John Lydon reported him in the 1970's, and was banned by BBC.
BBC is a nest for paedophiles, why can't it be closed down! 😠
I wish more people knew the true story of the lady labelled the "Ugliest Woman in the World."" Mary Ann Webster was born in London in 1874, and for the first half of her life, she lived an ordinary life. The pretty young girl became a nurse, married Thomas Bevan in 1903, and together, they had four children. Though they weren't wealthy, they were happy. But tragedy struck in 1914 when her husband died unexpectedly, leaving her in debt with four children to feed. This was a time when the country was suffering from the hardships of World War I. To make matters worse, Mary Ann began to show symptoms of a rare disease called acromegaly. This hormonal disorder caused painful, abnormal growths on her face, hands, and feet, deforming her features. In an unenlightened time, she became an object of ridicule and disgust. She lost her job and feared her children would end up in a poor house. Desperate to provide for her family, Mary Ann entered an "Ugliest Woman" contest. She won and was able to pay her debts by working in circuses and sideshows in England. Before long, she was touring internationally, even headlining in the Coney Island freak shows in New York. Despite being able to support her children, her daily life was a constant humiliation. From morning till night, she was publicly mocked and exploited, forced to endure the cruel jeers of strangers who saw her as the embodiment of feminine shame. Mary Ann Bevan continued to provide for her family with work in sideshows until her death in 1933. When I look at her story, I see dignity, courage, and sacrifice. Her challenging life held up a mirror to a cruel and superficial side of humanity. That bestial streak, lacking compassion and understanding for those who suffer from disabilities. And it is that face which is truly ugly.
I read about her. Such a crying shame this happened to this pretty woman. Becoming a sideshow freak to.make money to feed her kids.
What a brave woman to do this, accept ridicule, laughed at, for money.
I always felt sorry for her.
God knows how much worse it would be today with social media.
Do you think you will leave this world a happier place than you entered it?
Not only the outside world, but the one you have created in your time here.
Not the outside world, but yes.I think I will with my family. Done all I can for them all, so like to think it's enabled them to a better life,.
We came after WW2, but I think the after effects were still being felt by the adults around us.
In this country at least, people began to either mix or keep to themselves, Blacks, Jews and indigenous Brits got on, I don't recall any trouble between different groups....the troubles were mainly white on white, teddy boys, mods, rockers usually youngsters.
I would say the world now is in a worse place.
My world....I agree with you. I hope I leave behind a happy family, it's the most important thing to have contributed in the making of them.
More nostalgia, this time from the 50s, my generation. I sat here nodding "yes I remember that..." I don't agree that we were the toughest and most resilient, as I feel my parents had it tougher and theirs before them.
So many memories brought back today...the fashion of the day (kids and adults); bananas being like gold dust and a real treat; walking to school and sitting in class with coats on, knees frozen, shivering away; street races of homemade go-karts (we called them "steeries"); hopscotch outlines everywhere: lads in knitted balaclavas jousting with metal bin lids and old fence posts as swords; and oh my God endless chilblains; loose ciggies sold as "looseys" (my brothers not me); the dentist pain; excitement getting a b/w tv; no memory of seeing overweight kids/adults...
One of the things I distinctly remember is the respect we had for teachers, doctors, police officers and adults in general, oh and good manners. Both were a given.
I now find myself saying "when I was a kid" just as my parents did.
As hard as it was at times I wouldn't want to be born into today's world.
I remember so much as a kid, and loved it. I think we had the best childhood, fun, playing outside, safe as houses. I hate the times now.
/\ Lovely times, very hard, but as kids we didn't realise that.
NO meant no, and we heard that a lot because there was little money about. I don't think we felt poor though, because everyone around us was the same.
Todays kids have it so much easier in monetary terms, I doubt they appreciate how much they do have, including home comforts...something the older generations certainly didn't have.
No doubt when they are old, they too will look back on their childhoods and remember how happy they were, that's the way of the world.
I dunno Syl, they will never have the freedom we had. Now it's all wifi, computers, phones, not playing out. Knocking for your mates. I feel they missed out tbh.
Didn't know about it, but no I won't have it.
Here is some background into how.
I am still not sure how much truth was told back then....I know I would hate to go through it again.
Oxford vaccine: How did they make it so quickly? - BBC News
-- Edited by Syl on Thursday 29th of January 2026 04:32:00 PM