The death was announced of Jill Saward, a campaigner for women who have suffered sexual assault, on 3 January.
A statement released by the family said: ‘Jill dedicated the past 30 years of her life to helping other people. It gives us great comfort to know that our wonderful wife, mother and sister was able to help other people to the very end.’
She was cruelly exposed by The Sun news-paper as the assault victim at the Ealing vicarage in 1986, where her father and boyfriend were tied up. (This unprecedented action became illegal in 1992.) The attack received widespread attention for its brutality and for a comment in the subsequent trial when the judge said the trauma suffered by her ‘had not been so great’.
She wrote a book about the attack, and campaigned on issues including sexual violence and violence against women.
Forgiving is a release
Jill told Elizabeth Grice in an interview for The Daily Telegraph in 2006: ‘Of course, sometimes I thought it might be quite nice to be full of hatred and revenge. But I think it creates a barrier and you’re the one who gets damaged in the end. So, although it makes you vulnerable, forgiving is actually a release. I don’t think I’d be here today without my Christian faith. That’s what got me through.’ In addition: ‘I make no complaint about this tag [of rape victim], as it has enabled me to challenge politicians and work for change.’
