5 questions for John Savage...The Old Professor

[Howard Brown]

Here are a few questions for JTRForums one and only Old Professor..John Savage.

Hull, England is famous for several things....one of which is that Mick Ronson,David Bowie's guitarist from the late 1960's hailed from Hull....and Robert Stephenson came from that humble hamlet....so too,is John.


Questions.........

Did you begin studying the Whitechapel Murders as some have said back in 1888-89 or was it in the 1960's ?

What was the most significant event or aspect of the WM that inspired you to become a researcher...

What was your first area of interest ?

Have you ever focused on one certain suspect? Are you swayed by any argument for their culpability if you do?

What area of research is the most satisfying for you?
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bonus question

If we were in a taproom and there was enough for one more pint of beer in the pitcher...would you share it or keep it away from me?

Thanks John

[Robert Linford]

John in his Moonage Daydream years.

[John Savage]

Well Howard, a fireside chat eh?

Now, when people come to me for such chats I find they often have a problem; is that the case with you young man? If so don’t be afraid, shy or embarrassed, nothing you say will shock me, and of course I will be utterly discreet and not tell anyone.

Of course Mick Ronson was by no means the only pop musician to come from the town. Way back in the 1950’s I recall another young chap, David Whitfield was his name, he became top of the charts and made so much money he bought his own fish and chip shop. Later in the 1980’s came another young fellow, Roland Gift, same sort of thing made a few records and lots of money, then moved to the states I believe. So if you should bump into young Roland over there, remind him of the ten bob he still owes me for a packet of cigs.

Did you begin studying the Whitechapel Murders as some have said back in 1888-9 or was it in the 1960’s?

Well not quite as early as 1888 although I don’t recall the exact year, I had just taken a tram down to Shepard’s Bush and walking down the Uxbridge Road I made the acquaintance of a young doctor by the name of Dutton. A nice sort of chap although to my mind over concerned about diet, (plenty of roughage that sort of thing), he also had a liking for alcohol free beer! Anyway he told me some fantastic story about Jack the Ripper being, if I recall correctly, none other than Rasputin’s hairdresser; absolute tosh of course, but I made a note of it all and passed it on to a journalist friend of mind called McCormick. Goodness only knows what he did with it; threw it away if he had any sense.

What was the most significant event or aspect of the WM that inspired you to become a researcher?

Well it wasn’t the Whitechapel Murders that made me become a researcher. It all started many years ago when a friend of mine had been trying to purchase three dozen metal dustbin lids, not the dustbins just the lids you understand,
He had looked everywhere but was unable to find anyone who could help, so in desperation he came to me for assistance. Unable to resist a challenge I set about finding a source of supply for this unusual request, and with the help of friends, a few days later we had our three dozen lids. Flushed with success I quickly moved on to try and locate a shipwreck called the “Bon Homme Richard”, captained by privateer John Paul Jones, which sank in the German Ocean after a famous battle off Flamborough Head. My research led to the fact that only one author on the subject had given an exact position for the wreck, he was Augustus Buell, whom other authors have described as the biggest liar ever to set pen to paper! Wherever he got this information from I was unable to discover, but according to my calculations he was probably about right; so anyone searching for the wreck needs, in my opinion, to be just west of the Silver Pits.

What was your first area of interest?

I am not sure which came first; it was either sex or beer. Anyway they are both areas into which I try to carry out ongoing research.

Have you ever focused on one certain suspect? Are you swayed by any Argument for their culpability if you do?

No.

What area of research is the most satisfying for you?

I think what I enjoy the most is turning up new material, however minor or unimportant it may seem. For instance, I have been carrying out a great deal of research into Charles Street, Hull, birthplace of out mutual friend Donston. Some alarming things have turned up, first of all I found a publican called Joe Gorman, then astoundingly a pub named “The Duke of Clarence”. This immediately roused my suspicions, because as you already know Mary Kelly’s common law husband, Joe Barnett was a fish porter at Billingsgate, but perhaps what you did not realise is that in Victorian times Hull was the largest fishing port in the country! As if this were not enough coincidence, I can also tell you that from private information, Prince Albert Victor was very partial to a little smoked haddock for his breakfast. Exciting isn’t it? Alas I have not been able to develop this theory further, but I understand there is a talented young lady researcher in Canada who specialises in this sort of thing, so if she can do anything with this material good luck to her.

And yes, I will happy share the first and the last pint with you anytime.

Toodle pip.

[Chris G.]

Did you begin studying the Whitechapel Murders as some have said back in 1888-9 or was it in the 1960’s?

Well not quite as early as 1888 although I don’t recall the exact year, I had just taken a tram down to Shepard’s Bush and walking down the Uxbridge Road I made the acquaintance of a young doctor by the name of Dutton. A nice sort of chap although to my mind over concerned about diet, (plenty of roughage that sort of thing), he also had a liking for alcohol free beer! Anyway he told me some fantastic story about Jack the Ripper being, if I recall correctly, none other than Rasputin’s hairdresser; absolute tosh of course, but I made a note of it all and passed it on to a journalist friend of mind called McCormick. Goodness only knows what he did with it; threw it away if he had any sense. . . .

Hi John

Interesting responses. Now let me see. Wasn't McCormick the geezer who was responsible for the Reaper. Or was that the Ripper? The mind plays tricks.

Chris

[Robert Linford]

Thanks for that fireside chat, uncle John. I believe that your "Jack the Kipper" theories have opened up a whole new field in Ripperology.

This is the dawning of the age of Aquariums.

Robert

[Howard Brown]

Thanks very much,Old Professor....much appreciated.

Save the jokes,Mr. Linford sor....you're next on the 5 questions list

[Robert Linford]

No, no, Dave O is dying to take my place.