Singer, actor and comedian, Harold Donald Secombe was born at mid-day on 8th September 1921 and grew up at 7 St. Leger Crescent, St. Thomas, Swansea. Aged 8, he joined St. Thomas Church choir which he continued to participate in until his voice broke. Although spending the second half of his life with his wife Myra and four children in Cheame, Surrey, Harry admitted in his later years that his heart still belonged in Swansea. Sir Harry's favourite childhood haunt was Swansea Market, which he described as "an Aladdin's Cave" and used to travel there each Saturday with his mother on a tram from his home.
On his way to school (Dynevor Secondary School, Swansea) each day, he walked past Weaver's Flour Mill. This building contained a notice board which displayed who would be appearing next at Swansea's Empire Theatre. This fuelled Harry's desire to tread the boards himself. He discovered the joy of applause for himself when he sang the 'Blue Danube' with his friend at The Brangwyn Hall's inaugoral concert. At that point, he knew he wanted to be a star.
His first job was as a pay clerk at Baldwins Limited on Wind Street. He made extra money on his tea round by also taking refreshments to a neighbouring office. Six months before the outbreak of World War II, he joined the Swansea Territorial Army and at the age of 21 he was posted oversea where he spent much of the war, as part of the 321 Gun Battery, Swansea Territorials, in Africa and Italy. It was during the war that he met and formed a lasting friendship with fellow 'Goon', Spike Milligan.
Demobbed from the army at the close of World War II, Sir Harry joined London's West End Windmill Theatre where he met his wife-to-be, Myra Atherton. In 1949, he teamed up with Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan and Michael Bentine to form the radio troupe 'The Goons'.
Sir Harry married Myra at St. Barnabus Church, Sketty, Swansea and, finding more and more of his time being spent on the Swansea to London train, he and his wife decided to relocate closer to the English Capital.
Through the years 1950-80, Sir Harry was a regular at the London Palladium, where he performed at several Royal Commands. His first UK solo musical hit came in 1955 with 'On with the Motley', whilst in 1967, he reached number two in the UK Charts performing Charlie Chaplin's 'This is my Song'. He was beaten from the top spot by Petula Clarke's rendition of the very same song!
Later in his life, Harry lost a lot of weight through health worries, during which he presented Independent Television's religious series 'Highway'. Actively involved with charities and fundraising, he was awarded the C.B.E. in 1963 and was knighted in 1981.
In 1997, Sir Harry suffered a stroke. Recovering only slowly, he was then informed that he has prostrate cancer. Sir Harry Secombe died on April 11th 2001, aged 79.
Harry Secombe
