'I’ve seen a few comments along the lines of how Vile was put in charge at Broadmoor; I can answer those questions and give some answers, as I worked there during this period.

Firstly his keys.

He did have a standard set of keys, not gold ones as reported. I know this as they were hung 3 bunches away from mine in the key issue area. I saw these keys nearly every day and they were not gold or gold coloured.

These keys would have allowed him to access any ward or department except those with a separate top lock; pharmacy, admin offices, med centre etc. Neither would they allow him access anything under the direct control of the Security Department or Control Room.

Hospital Management Team (HMT)

Vile had volunteered at the hospital for a number of years, as Unofficial Entertainments Officer; this was a self-awarded title and not an official post. Up until 1989 the 3 Special Hospitals Broadmoor, Rampton and Park Lane/Moss Side (later renamed Ashworth), were directly managed by the Department of Health and Social Security (DHSS). In 1988 each of the hospitals had a General Manager appointed to oversee the transition of the 3 hospitals from direct government control to an agency known as the Special Hospitals Service Authority (SHSA). At Broadmoor, Alan Franey was appointed GM and his first task was to set up the HMT group to oversee this change and VILE was appointed de-facto Chairman.

Many staff wondered what Franey’s and Vile’s relationship was and it was not till an episode of This I Your Life, that Alan Franey appeared on and he was referred to as Vile’s Business Manager.

HMT only lasted a year and with the introduction of the SHSA a new management structure was introduced with Charles Kaye as Chief Executive and Alan Franey as General Manager.

Both have wrote a book stating that their intention was to smash the power of the main trade union, the Prison Officers Association, who were their major opponents in changing the way Broadmoor and the other hospitals ran. Power at this time rested with the Charge Nurses and Ward Sisters, and they were the stumbling block they were up against.
This was achieved by either promotion to management level or by offering enhanced retirement packages, once the ‘dinosaurs’ were gone they could then go to town on the place.

Vile’s Role

During this time Vile reverted back to his ‘post’ as unofficial entertainments officer. He used to turn up periodically, and was hated by around 90% of the staff. Many of the remaining Charges and Sisters would have no hesitation in telling him to f*** off when he walked onto their ward. He never had to my knowledge a room on any of the wards, but he did have a nice house outside the secure perimeter provided for him to use when he visited.

Vile was a pain in the arse, he wound everybody up, both staff and patient alike, with bragging and arrogance. He nearly caused a riot in the central hall 2 days before Xmas by bragging to the patients and their visitors about how he was off on Caribbean cruise for the Xmas and New Year. This went down a treat with them no end.

Every time a film crew turned up, he was there taking centre stage claiming that the reforms at Broadmoor were his work. He was always absent though when it was a negative story, funny that isn’t it?

He would brag to the press that he ran the place, the staff was thugs who didn’t know what they were doing, and bearing in mind we dealt with some of this country’s worst nonces, ponces and rapists. Staff at Broadmoor were/are some of most highly qualified and experienced in dealing with these highly dangerous people. Having a shell-suited, cigar smoking p**k telling you how to do your job sort of winds you up a bit.

To those staff that may be reading this and were in the 10% who kissed his arse, you my friends were aiding and abetting a paedophile, I hope you have many sleepless nights as you conscience bothers you about all the things he did. Please don’t try and feign ignorance, you heard the rumours as well as the rest of us who hated him did, but you were in that percentage of management level that protected him and, when those of us who saw through him tried to tell you, your eyes and ears remain closed, you are just as guilty as him.'