Sir Jimmy Savile's headstone will be broken up and sent to landfill after it was removed late last night.
The elaborate tombstone was removed at midnight after Savile's family requested it be taken away out of "respect to public opinion".
The move came after police said they believe the "predatory sex offender" could have abused up to 25 victims over 40 years.
Jimmy Savile's headstone was removed last night
Savile's family said they made the decision to ensure the "dignity and sanctity" of Woodlands Cemetery in Scarborough.
The headstone, which bears the star's image and lists his accomplishments, including the epitaph "It was good while it lasted", was due to be removed at 7am today but work was brought forward to midnight to avoid unwanted attention, and out of respect for those with relatives in the graveyard.
It has now been taken to a stonemason's yard in Leeds where the inscription will be ground down and will then be broken up and sent to landfill.
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Funeral director Robert Morphit, of Joseph A Hey and Son, who organised Savile's funeral and oversaw the dismantling of the headstone, said: "Yesterday afternoon the family contacted me and said they'd thought very carefully about the course of action with regard to the stone.
"They had decided that in order to protect the dignity and sanctity of this cemetery it was appropriate to remove the stone."
He said the stone was removed in three pieces and taken away on a lorry.
"We've taken it back to our yard in Leeds. We'll grind the inscription off and we will dispose of the memorial. It'll be broken up and just go to landfill.
"When we erected his headstone not three weeks ago I expected it to be here forever. I never thought it'd be removed, let alone so quickly."
The grave, in which Savile was buried at an angle so he could "see" Scarborough Castle and the sea, will remain unmarked for the foreseeable future.
The prime spot, which is roped off, was today identifiable only by several bunches of flowers on a dirt patch.
Morphit said once the family comes to terms with the outcome of various investigations they will make a decision as to how it should be marked in the future.
A family spokesman said in a statement: "The family members are deeply aware of the impact that the stone remaining there could have on the dignity and sanctity of the cemetery.
"Out of respect to public opinion, to those who are buried there and to those who tend their graves and visit there, we have decided to remove it."
A number of memorials to Savile have already been removed, including an inscription on the wall at Leeds Civic Hall in recognition of his charity work, and a street sign in Scarborough. A plaque outside his home has been defaced.
Yesterday, Commander Peter Spindler, Scotland Yard's head of specialist crime investigations, said the abuse appeared to have been on a "national scale".
He told the BBC: "At this stage it is quite clear from what women are telling us that Savile was a predatory sex offender."
Scotland Yard has formally recorded eight criminal allegations against the former Top Of The Pops presenter so far in its investigation, named Operation Yewtree.
The alleged abuse involves teenage girls as young as 13 and includes two complaints of rape and six of indecent assault, with officers looking into up to 120 lines of inquiry that could lead to up to 25 victims.
Spindler said allegations span four decades, the earliest dating back to 1959, and suggest Savile had a "predilection for teenage girls".
A spokesman for Scotland Yard said at least five forces - the Met, Surrey, Sussex, Northamptonshire and Jersey - are investigating allegations.
As well as claims relating to abuse at the BBC, Jersey's Haut de la Garenne children's home, and Duncroft Approved School for Girls near Staines, Surrey, police have contacted Stoke Mandeville Hospital and Leeds Royal Infirmary, where Savile did charity work.
After the inquiry, Scotland Yard will produce a joint report with the NSPCC to look for lessons that can be learned and conclusions drawn.
The NSPCC received 40 calls in the five days after the claims emerged. Of these, 24 have been referred to police or other agencies, and 17 directly relate to Savile.
There were also 21 unrelated calls to the helpline stemming from publicity over the allegations.
Chairman of the BBC Trust Lord Patten has given his backing to inquiries by police and the corporation, saying allegations against Savile could not be excused as behaviour from a time when "attitudes were different".
BBC director-general George Entwistle has also apologised to victims and said the corporation would hold its own inquiry, to follow a police probe.
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Headstone of Sir Jimmy Savile removed
A general view showing flowers left on the grave of Sir Jimmy Savile in Woodlands Cemetery, Scarborough, after the headstone was removed overnight at the request of Savile's family.
Headstone of Sir Jimmy Savile removed
Bunches of flowers left at the grave of Sir Jimmy Savile after his headstone was removed in the middle of the night.
Headstone of Sir Jimmy Savile removed
A message alongside bunches of flowers left at the grave of Sir Jimmy Savile after his headstone was removed in the middle of the night.
Headstone of Sir Jimmy Savile removed
Funeral director Robert Morphet stands next to the grave of Sir Jimmy Savile in Woodlands Cemetery, Scarborough, where he assisted the local council in removing the headstone at the request of Savile's family.
Headstone of Sir Jimmy Savile removed
Funeral director Robert Morphet stands next to the grave of Sir Jimmy Savile in Woodlands Cemetery, Scarborough, where he assisted the local council in removing the headstone at the request of Savile's family.
Headstone of Sir Jimmy Savile removed
A general view showing flowers left on the grave of Sir Jimmy Savile in Woodlands Cemetery, Scarborough, where the headstone was removed overnight at the request of Savile's family.
Headstone of Sir Jimmy Savile removed
A general view showing flowers left on the grave of Sir Jimmy Savile in Woodlands Cemetery, Scarborough, after the headstone was removed overnight at the request of Savile's family.
Headstone of Sir Jimmy Savile removed
A message left at the grave of Sir Jimmy Savile in Woodlands Cemetery, Scarborough, after the headstone was removed overnight at the request of Savile's family.
Headstone of Sir Jimmy Savile removed
A general view showing the sign at the entrance to Woodlands Cemetery, Scarborough, where Sir Jimmy Savile is buried.
See pictures of fans queuing in the rain to catch a glimpse of Savile's coffin
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Sir Jimmy Savile's gold coffin lies in state in Leeds, where fans can pay their respects during a three-day funeral.
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Auction of Sir Jimmy Savile's memorabilia
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Sir Jimmy Savile Auction
A sale of the late Sir Jimmy Savile's possessions and mementoes has got under way with one of the late DJ's Highland suits going for £280. The tweed jacket and kilt was the first of 549 lots to go under the hammer in Sir Jimmy's home city of Leeds today. The auction, which is expected to take at least eight hours, will include gold suits, Cuban cigars and the broadcaster's beloved Rolls-Royce. The lots include thousands of items of memorabilia owned by Sir Jimmy, which are being sold to raise money for his charitable trust. His trademark tracksuits and jewellery, including a £12,000 gold and diamond-encrusted Rolex watch, gold identity bracelet and rings, are all on offer along with the first ever chair from his Jim'll Fix It TV show. The sale kicked off at Savile Hall, at the Royal Armouries, with around 300 people packing the room and many more bidders taking part over the phone and via internet. Lot one - the Highland suit - was bought by a local man on the front row. As the auction continued, some items started to soar above their estimates. A Scottish shepherd's crook estimated to sell for between £30 and £60 went for £380. A tireless charity worker, Sir Jimmy is thought to have raised more than £40 million for good causes in his lifetime. He died just before his 85th birthday last year and requested his belongings be sold for charity after his death.
Sir Jimmy Savile Auction
A sale of the late Sir Jimmy Savile's possessions and mementoes has got under way with one of the late DJ's Highland suits going for £280. The tweed jacket and kilt was the first of 549 lots to go under the hammer in Sir Jimmy's home city of Leeds today. The auction, which is expected to take at least eight hours, will include gold suits, Cuban cigars and the broadcaster's beloved Rolls-Royce. The lots include thousands of items of memorabilia owned by Sir Jimmy, which are being sold to raise money for his charitable trust. His trademark tracksuits and jewellery, including a £12,000 gold and diamond-encrusted Rolex watch, gold identity bracelet and rings, are all on offer along with the first ever chair from his Jim'll Fix It TV show. The sale kicked off at Savile Hall, at the Royal Armouries, with around 300 people packing the room and many more bidders taking part over the phone and via internet. Lot one - the Highland suit - was bought by a local man on the front row. As the auction continued, some items started to soar above their estimates. A Scottish shepherd's crook estimated to sell for between £30 and £60 went for £380. A tireless charity worker, Sir Jimmy is thought to have raised more than £40 million for good causes in his lifetime. He died just before his 85th birthday last year and requested his belongings be sold for charity after his death.
Sir Jimmy Savile Auction
A sale of the late Sir Jimmy Savile's possessions and mementoes has got under way with one of the late DJ's Highland suits going for £280. The tweed jacket and kilt was the first of 549 lots to go under the hammer in Sir Jimmy's home city of Leeds today. The auction, which is expected to take at least eight hours, will include gold suits, Cuban cigars and the broadcaster's beloved Rolls-Royce. The lots include thousands of items of memorabilia owned by Sir Jimmy, which are being sold to raise money for his charitable trust. His trademark tracksuits and jewellery, including a £12,000 gold and diamond-encrusted Rolex watch, gold identity bracelet and rings, are all on offer along with the first ever chair from his Jim'll Fix It TV show. The sale kicked off at Savile Hall, at the Royal Armouries, with around 300 people packing the room and many more bidders taking part over the phone and via internet. Lot one - the Highland suit - was bought by a local man on the front row. As the auction continued, some items started to soar above their estimates. A Scottish shepherd's crook estimated to sell for between £30 and £60 went for £380. A tireless charity worker, Sir Jimmy is thought to have raised more than £40 million for good causes in his lifetime. He died just before his 85th birthday last year and requested his belongings be sold for charity after his death.
Sir Jimmy Savile Auction
A sale of the late Sir Jimmy Savile's possessions and mementoes has got under way with one of the late DJ's Highland suits going for £280. The tweed jacket and kilt was the first of 549 lots to go under the hammer in Sir Jimmy's home city of Leeds today. The auction, which is expected to take at least eight hours, will include gold suits, Cuban cigars and the broadcaster's beloved Rolls-Royce. The lots include thousands of items of memorabilia owned by Sir Jimmy, which are being sold to raise money for his charitable trust. His trademark tracksuits and jewellery, including a £12,000 gold and diamond-encrusted Rolex watch, gold identity bracelet and rings, are all on offer along with the first ever chair from his Jim'll Fix It TV show. The sale kicked off at Savile Hall, at the Royal Armouries, with around 300 people packing the room and many more bidders taking part over the phone and via internet. Lot one - the Highland suit - was bought by a local man on the front row. As the auction continued, some items started to soar above their estimates. A Scottish shepherd's crook estimated to sell for between £30 and £60 went for £380. A tireless charity worker, Sir Jimmy is thought to have raised more than £40 million for good causes in his lifetime. He died just before his 85th birthday last year and requested his belongings be sold for charity after his death.
Sir Jimmy Savile Auction
A sale of the late Sir Jimmy Savile's possessions and mementoes has got under way with one of the late DJ's Highland suits going for £280. The tweed jacket and kilt was the first of 549 lots to go under the hammer in Sir Jimmy's home city of Leeds today. The auction, which is expected to take at least eight hours, will include gold suits, Cuban cigars and the broadcaster's beloved Rolls-Royce. The lots include thousands of items of memorabilia owned by Sir Jimmy, which are being sold to raise money for his charitable trust. His trademark tracksuits and jewellery, including a £12,000 gold and diamond-encrusted Rolex watch, gold identity bracelet and rings, are all on offer along with the first ever chair from his Jim'll Fix It TV show. The sale kicked off at Savile Hall, at the Royal Armouries, with around 300 people packing the room and many more bidders taking part over the phone and via internet. Lot one - the Highland suit - was bought by a local man on the front row. As the auction continued, some items started to soar above their estimates. A Scottish shepherd's crook estimated to sell for between £30 and £60 went for £380. A tireless charity worker, Sir Jimmy is thought to have raised more than £40 million for good causes in his lifetime. He died just before his 85th birthday last year and requested his belongings be sold for charity after his death.
Sir Jimmy Savile Auction
A sale of the late Sir Jimmy Savile's possessions and mementoes has got under way with one of the late DJ's Highland suits going for £280. The tweed jacket and kilt was the first of 549 lots to go under the hammer in Sir Jimmy's home city of Leeds today. The auction, which is expected to take at least eight hours, will include gold suits, Cuban cigars and the broadcaster's beloved Rolls-Royce. The lots include thousands of items of memorabilia owned by Sir Jimmy, which are being sold to raise money for his charitable trust. His trademark tracksuits and jewellery, including a £12,000 gold and diamond-encrusted Rolex watch, gold identity bracelet and rings, are all on offer along with the first ever chair from his Jim'll Fix It TV show. The sale kicked off at Savile Hall, at the Royal Armouries, with around 300 people packing the room and many more bidders taking part over the phone and via internet. Lot one - the Highland suit - was bought by a local man on the front row. As the auction continued, some items started to soar above their estimates. A Scottish shepherd's crook estimated to sell for between £30 and £60 went for £380. A tireless charity worker, Sir Jimmy is thought to have raised more than £40 million for good causes in his lifetime. He died just before his 85th birthday last year and requested his belongings be sold for charity after his death.
Sir Jimmy Savile Auction
A sale of the late Sir Jimmy Savile's possessions and mementoes has got under way with one of the late DJ's Highland suits going for £280. The tweed jacket and kilt was the first of 549 lots to go under the hammer in Sir Jimmy's home city of Leeds today. The auction, which is expected to take at least eight hours, will include gold suits, Cuban cigars and the broadcaster's beloved Rolls-Royce. The lots include thousands of items of memorabilia owned by Sir Jimmy, which are being sold to raise money for his charitable trust. His trademark tracksuits and jewellery, including a £12,000 gold and diamond-encrusted Rolex watch, gold identity bracelet and rings, are all on offer along with the first ever chair from his Jim'll Fix It TV show. The sale kicked off at Savile Hall, at the Royal Armouries, with around 300 people packing the room and many more bidders taking part over the phone and via internet. Lot one - the Highland suit - was bought by a local man on the front row. As the auction continued, some items started to soar above their estimates. A Scottish shepherd's crook estimated to sell for between £30 and £60 went for £380. A tireless charity worker, Sir Jimmy is thought to have raised more than £40 million for good causes in his lifetime. He died just before his 85th birthday last year and requested his belongings be sold for charity after his death.
Sir Jimmy Savile Auction
A sale of the late Sir Jimmy Savile's possessions and mementoes has got under way with one of the late DJ's Highland suits going for £280. The tweed jacket and kilt was the first of 549 lots to go under the hammer in Sir Jimmy's home city of Leeds today. The auction, which is expected to take at least eight hours, will include gold suits, Cuban cigars and the broadcaster's beloved Rolls-Royce. The lots include thousands of items of memorabilia owned by Sir Jimmy, which are being sold to raise money for his charitable trust. His trademark tracksuits and jewellery, including a £12,000 gold and diamond-encrusted Rolex watch, gold identity bracelet and rings, are all on offer along with the first ever chair from his Jim'll Fix It TV show. The sale kicked off at Savile Hall, at the Royal Armouries, with around 300 people packing the room and many more bidders taking part over the phone and via internet. Lot one - the Highland suit - was bought by a local man on the front row. As the auction continued, some items started to soar above their estimates. A Scottish shepherd's crook estimated to sell for between £30 and £60 went for £380. A tireless charity worker, Sir Jimmy is thought to have raised more than £40 million for good causes in his lifetime. He died just before his 85th birthday last year and requested his belongings be sold for charity after his death.
Sir Jimmy Savile Auction
A sale of the late Sir Jimmy Savile's possessions and mementoes has got under way with one of the late DJ's Highland suits going for £280. The tweed jacket and kilt was the first of 549 lots to go under the hammer in Sir Jimmy's home city of Leeds today. The auction, which is expected to take at least eight hours, will include gold suits, Cuban cigars and the broadcaster's beloved Rolls-Royce. The lots include thousands of items of memorabilia owned by Sir Jimmy, which are being sold to raise money for his charitable trust. His trademark tracksuits and jewellery, including a £12,000 gold and diamond-encrusted Rolex watch, gold identity bracelet and rings, are all on offer along with the first ever chair from his Jim'll Fix It TV show. The sale kicked off at Savile Hall, at the Royal Armouries, with around 300 people packing the room and many more bidders taking part over the phone and via internet. Lot one - the Highland suit - was bought by a local man on the front row. As the auction continued, some items started to soar above their estimates. A Scottish shepherd's crook estimated to sell for between £30 and £60 went for £380. A tireless charity worker, Sir Jimmy is thought to have raised more than £40 million for good causes in his lifetime. He died just before his 85th birthday last year and requested his belongings be sold for charity after his death.
Updated 18:35 9 October 2012: headstone information
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Imagine if The Sun had printed an expose "Jimmy Savile is a Paedophile". Imagine it had taken the sworn word of several young women victims, gone against the legal advice (for it would have been No!) like the Daily Mail did over naming the Stephen Lawrence killers, and printed the sort of allegations that have been aired this week in the wake of ITV's brave documentary.
Over my years in the industry, I've noticed that the baby-related-headline count spikes at Christmas. Is it a sentimentality thing? Is it a Baby Jesus thing? Who knows. It's creepy, anyhow.
I'd like to pay my respects and say R.I.P to Sir Jimmy Savile, who died on Saturday. I met him only once, weirdly, it was at a dinner at Chequers in October 1999. I was first to arrive that evening (sad but true) and I was standing talking to Tony Blair, who was rocking his Gap casuals. Anyway, who is the next guest to arrive, but Jimmy Savile. At that point I thought life is definitely getting surreal. Rock 'n' roll to the end, he spent the entire night trying with persistence to chat up my wife, Kate. He was a rock 'n' roller even in his 70s, a bit like my Dad. Actually, my Dad just does the rock 'n' roll, not the charity work.
The weird, yodelling, late light entertainer is likewise being subjected to a post-mortem trial. He's accused of sexually assaulting girls, with everyone from ITV to the scandal-thirsty Twitterati pointing a massive collective finger at this man who cannot defend himself while yelling: "PAEDOPHILE."
I'm coming to the end of a year that has been full for us guys, and also it really is a mad time to be alive in general I think. Do you ever wake up and think, we live in time of such change and progress and yet seem to be standing on the edge of the abyss?
All this Jimmy Saville press is making me feel very uneasy. I had a dinner with Alan, my new husband at Chequers just after Blair came to power and straight after the infamous No 10 cocktail Party. I was seated in between Mr Saville and Judy Dench.
When and where was it acceptable for grown men to sexually assault children? Savile is dead but plenty of people who may have been involved in criminal acts - either as perpetrators or as victims are still alive and that this may have happened still matters today.
Is it me or am I the only one wondering why nobody actually said anything at the time these assaults took place becuase it seems thousands of people knew what was going on, police, nurses social workers etc. 1 woman has just been on tv and said she saw saville who was obviously a sado grope a brain damaged young girl why did she not say anything, why did these nurses who advised the young femail patients to pretend to be asleep when saville was about not raise the subject to somebody. What did saville have over these hundreds of witnesses?.I can understand the young girls being scared to say anything but for everybody else what.
superdipstick: Is it me or am I the only one wondering
Is Britain becoming like a Stalinist state, where someone can be denounced without trial or any means to defend themselves, and then all traces of their memory obliterated.
clayton_a: Is Britain becoming like a Stalinist state, where someone can
Seems like the media are winning this one. The ball is rolling and gaining speed rapidly. By this time next week, it will all be done and dusted. Move on to the next story.
madphil2011: Seems like the media are winning this one. The ball
What would have happened if the age of consent had been lowered to 14 years ago? I know that I will be battered for this, but, being devil's advocate for a minute, Jimmy Savile's name is now synonymous with paedophile and now that more names are coming out and celebs are recounting their own "assaults" at the hands of collegues "who shall remain nameless", just about any bloke over thirty is now looked upon as a threat to kids.
No one is mentioning that we have one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy in the civilized world( whether we like it or not, young girls are having sex), horrendous cases of abuse of infants at the hands of young mothers and their vile partners and unprecedented numbers of kids,many already beyond repair, being taken into care as a result of terrible treatment. We have had cases like the girl who went clubbing while her baby slowly roasted in front of the gas fire, the baby P case and countless others. We have had terrible tales of schoolgirl bullying resulting in suicide, female gangs carrying out violent attacks on girls and yet the greatest outpouring of hatred has been reserved for an old dead guy.
I might mention that I was molested as a kid and have to deal with my feelings still, so I am certainly not defending anyone.Just saying that we need to ask some hard questions today nor just sort out what happened 40 years ago.
ideaville: What would have happened if the age of consent had
I'm afraid your points are not gossip and don't sell papers. I'm not saying its a bad state, but everything you said is much worse overall and is a result of women having too much money these days, everyone having too much access to easy and free (government) money, and no regulation on who can be parents due to their 'skills' to breed, unlike the very thorough and successful adoption process.
Clarks0n: I'm afraid your points are not gossip and don't sell
I think when the headstone is broken up then all his victims should be given a lump of it.
then dig him up and let them lob the bits of gravestone at him.
i can see them digging him up and they will do the same to his corpse as they did with hindley... burn him and scatter him somewhere.
gimmeanamethen: I think when the headstone is broken up then all
i don't understand why a senior police officer has publicly found him guilty. i thought it was their job to collect evidence to put before the cps and then a judge and jury decides.
alangraham05: i don't understand why a senior police officer has publicly
Just had a chat with colin fry.........he told me that jimmy saville is proper miffed at all this speculation..........now then now then now then.....howza bout that then ahahahah
dontcareless: Just had a chat with colin fry.........he told me that
Hey dont forget Hot Dogs, Ham Burgers and Bacon Butties not to mention pleny of Alcohol to wash them down with! Sounds like it will be a fantastic event!
Takethemike2: Hey dont forget Hot Dogs, Ham Burgers and Bacon Butties
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PA/Huffington Post UK | Posted: 10/10/2012 11:11 Updated: 10/10/2012 11:47