Decades of work with poor brought rehabilitation

JOHN PROFUMO, centre of the most sensational sex and security scandal of the 20th century, did penance for parliamentary dishonour with more than 30 years of charity work among the poor in London.

Friends believe he more than made up for the ruin he brought on a brilliant political career by lying to the House of Commons over his relationship with a call girl.

In 1975 he came in from the cold with a CBE for his work at Toynbee Hall, where he began the long road to rehabilitation washing dishes and helping meths drinkers.