A WOMAN who was allegedly attacked by Sir Clement Freud while a student has called for an overhaul of the scholarship honouring the former politician.
Rosemary Rimmer-Clay, 62, who was a 19-year-old in her second year at Dundee University where Freud was rector, is the fourth woman to make allegations of sexual assaults and predatory behaviour.
In the wake of the claims, Ms Rimmer-Clay has called on St Andrews University, where Freud was rector in the three years to 2005, to change the name of a scholarship programme named after the late MP.
She said the prestigious university should act if a Metropolitan Police investigation establishes that Freud was guilty of the crimes.
A spokesman for St Andrews said the university's senate business committee would determine what action they would take after the police probe has concluded.
Ms Rimmer-Clay waived her anonymity to tell how she was left feeling “repulsed, numb and shocked” after Freud allegedly attacked her in the 1970s.
She said that she believes the university should retain the £3000-a-year scholarship fund but consider renaming it.
“I was a particularly poor student during my time at Dundee, I would hate to deprive another student of help when times are so very tough for students," she said.
“I did a second degree up to 2010, and students are even poorer now.
“I would be inclined to wait until the end of the Metropolitan [police] investigation, rather than rushing to judgement, because there may be other people out there who speak up now.
“If it was eventually just renamed the 'Freud' scholarship it would surely be the best solution.
"It stops directly honouring someone who abused young people, but carries on with the award, so no student suffers."
Ms Rimmer-Clay, who is a Quaker, showed sympathy towards Freud's family who she said will have suffered since the allegations first emerged last week.
“I'm a from a religious tradition that seeks to avoid anger and revenge - it isn't the fault of his family that he behaved badly, and since he is not around I think it would be the least harmful response for everyone involved,” she said.
The scholarship application form for St Andrews forms part of a scheme to provide financial assistance to academically gifted students who would otherwise struggle with the cost of studying at the university.
St Andrews has conducted inquiries with staff who were at the university at the time of Freud's rectorship and found no evidence of any impropriety.
He had two three-year terms as rector starting in 1974 at Dundee.
A spokesperson for the university said: “These are deeply disturbing allegations.
"Sir Clement Freud was elected rector by students at St Andrews and was in post from 2002 to 2005.
"We are not aware that any concerns were ever expressed about his conduct towards students.”
Last week ITV Exposure heard from two alleged victims of Sir Clement Freud, which the Metropolitan Police are assessing.
After the documentary aired, another victim spoke to news team to say she had also been abused by Freud before Ms Rimmer-Clay came forward.
She said that after meeting at a Burns night supper in 1975, Freud, who died shortly before his 85th birthday in 2009, invited her to go to a coffee.
They went to Ms Rimmer-Clay’s nearby flat, where she said he “lunged” at her.
Sir Clement's widow Jill Freud, 89, earlier told the news programme: “I am shocked, deeply saddened and profoundly sorry for what has happened to these women.
“I sincerely hope they will now have some peace.”
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