THE grave of Sir Jimmy Savile is fast becoming a tourist attraction in the seaside town that he loved.
Up to 30 people per day visit the plot in Scarborough’s Woodland’s Crematorium. And a coachload of people has also attended the graveyard, according to the cemetery staff.
Some wanting to pay their respects even braved recent snow and ice to see the grave, situated at the top of the picturesque cemetery, which overlooks the town’s north and south bays.
One member of staff working at the cemetery said: “We have been inundated with visitors coming to visit Sir Jimmy’s grave. There has been at least 20-30 every day without fail, including a coach party, we’ve never seen anything like it.”
The grave is roped off and bears a simple name plaque in tribute to the broadcasting legend, who died on October 29 in his Leeds flat, just two days before his 85th birthday.
The gold-coloured American-style casket was so large that it takes up three normal sized plots. He was buried at a 45 degree angle, in line with his final wishes, so he could ‘see the sea’.
He also wanted the epitaph “It was good while it lasted” etched on the headstone, which will feature three photographs of the star at different stages in his life.
Previous reports had stated the word “great”, but it is, in fact, “good”.
The coffin was covered in a mixture of soil and cement after relatives feared souvenir hunters might try to dig up the contents.
A day before his funeral at St Anne’s Cathedral in Leeds, the gold coffin went on display at the Queen’s Hotel, where more than 5,000 people filed past.
Sir Jimmy’s nephew Roger Foster said: “I have visited his grave several times already and was surprised at the number of people there. Some were obviously curious, but many were paying their respects. It is comforting to see that Sir Jimmy still has appeal, even after his death. We know he was one of life’s true characters and after the funeral, know just how popular he really was.”
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