Profumo: Death of an unsung hero

Those of us, of a certain age, will easily recall the media frenzy back in 1963 over the ‘Profumo Affair’. The news that the man at the centre of the fuss, former UK minister John Profumo has died at the age of 91. See NewsHound
For the student of public scandal and political misbehaviour, the ‘Profumo Affair’ stands out for many reasons. For me, the most significant is that it awakened in me, barely in my teens, an abiding interest in public affairs.
I have poked around the bones of this seminal event frequently over the years. The reality is the titillating aspects of the sex scandal hide a wealth of insight into what makes a scandal and how it is perceived and dealt with.
Profumo himself no doubt fell into the trap of power, but his subsequent behaviour suggests that there was far more to the man than this lapse. If it had occurred prior to the ‘sixties era’ the scandal would probably not have seen the light of day and Profumo would have gone on to achieve great political accolades.
As it happens, being a creature of the old school, Profumo went quietly, forsaking a bright future, holding to the dictum; never complain, never explain. He lied to parliament; that was enough reason to fall on his sword.
Profumo, however, did not waste his gifts. Unlike today’s avaricious office seekers, he did not go out and peddle his skills and contacts to the corporate world for his own gain. He didn’t whine and seek to bring down others with him. Instead he quietly and efficiently gave his life and skills to a charity organisation in the poorest part of London.
Toynbee Hall is not a ritzy charity. It is in a rough area backing onto the street where Jack the Ripper killed his last victim, five years after its establishment by an Anglican priest and his wife in 1873.
When he approached Toynbee Hall after his fall from grace it was not to seek some alternative position of power; he would have been content to carry out the meanest of tasks, which he initially did. ***Profumo's first job after scandal was cleaning toilets***
But the charity was not about to waste Profumo’s talents. He was to to become the driving force which saw this old charity survive and prosper.
I have to admit, went from a figure of ribald fun, in my eyes, to a very real life hero. Far from those 'swinging sixties' images of tawdry sexcapades, John Profumo's life became one of admirable dignity and selflessness.
I happily predict that the predictable mass of posthumous bios will show Profumo for the hero he really was.