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{{Infobox person | {{Infobox person | ||
| image = Harry secombe.jpeg | | image = Harry secombe.jpeg | ||
| caption = | | caption = | ||
| honorific_prefix = [[ | | honorific_prefix = [[Sir]] | ||
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|CBE}} | | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|CBE}} | ||
| name = Harry Secombe | | name = Harry Secombe | ||
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1921| | | birth_date = {{Birth date|1921|09|08|df=y}} | ||
| birth_place = [[ | | birth_place = [[St Thomas, Swansea|St Thomas]], Wales | ||
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2001| | | death_date = {{Death date and age|2001|04|11|1921|09|08|df=y}} | ||
| death_place = [[ | | death_place = [[Guildford|Guildford]], [[Surre|y]], England | ||
| birth_name = Harold Donald Secombe | | birth_name = Harold Donald Secombe | ||
| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|actor|comedian}} | | occupation = {{hlist|Singer|actor|comedian}} | ||
| years_active = 1946–2001 | | years_active = 1946–2001 | ||
| spouse = {{marriage|Myra Atherton|1948}} | | spouse = {{marriage|Myra Atherton|1948}} | ||
| children = 4; including [[ | | children = 4; including [[Andy Secombe|Andy]] | ||
| relatives = [[ | | relatives = [[Fred Secombe]] (brother) | ||
| nationality = [[ | | nationality = [[Welsh People|Welsh]] | ||
| education = Dynevor School, Swansea | | education = Dynevor School, Swansea | ||
| television = ''[[The Goon Show]]'' (Radio)<br />The Harry Secombe Show, Secombe And Friends, [[ | | television = ''[[The Goon Show]]'' (Radio)<br />The Harry Secombe Show, Secombe And Friends, [[Highway (TV series)|Highway (TV)]]<br />[[Highway (TV series)|Sunday Morning with Secombe (TV)]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Sir Harold Donald Secombe''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CBE}} (8 September 1921 – 11 April 2001) was a [[ | '''Sir Harold Donald Secombe''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CBE}} (8 September 1921 – 11 April 2001) was a [[Welsh people|Welsh]] comedian, actor, singer and television presenter. Secombe was a member of the British [[radio comedy|radio comedy]] programme ''[[The Goon Show]]'' (1951–1960), playing many characters, most notably [[Neddie Seagoon]]. An accomplished tenor, he also appeared in [[musical theater|musicals]] and films – notably as [[Bumble (Oliver Twist)|Bumble]] in ''[[Oliver! (film)|Oliver!]]'' (1968) – and, in his later years, was a presenter of television shows incorporating [[hymn|hymn]]s and other devotional songs. | ||
==Early life== | ==Early life== | ||
Secombe was born in [[ | Secombe was born in [[St Thomas, Swansea|St Thomas]], the third of four children of Nellie Jane Gladys (née Davies), a shop manageress, and Frederick Ernest Secombe, a commercial traveller and office worker for a Swansea wholesale grocery business.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southwest/halloffame/showbiz/harrysecombe.shtml|title=BBC – Error 404 : Not Found|access-date=2 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729144318/http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southwest/halloffame/showbiz/harrysecombe.shtml|archive-date=29 July 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="bookref1">{{cite book|last=Secombe|first=Harry|title=Arias & raspberries: the autobiography of Harry Secombe. 'The raspberry years'., Volume 1|publisher=Robson|year=1989|page=14|isbn=0-86051-624-5}}</ref><ref name="bookref2">{{cite book|last=Gale|first=Steven H.|title=Encyclopedia of British humorists|publisher=Taylor & Francis|year=1995|page=926|isbn=0-8240-5990-5}}</ref> From the age of 11 he attended [[Dynevor School, Swansea|Dynevor School]], a state grammar school in central Swansea. | ||
His family were regular churchgoers, belonging to the congregation of St Thomas Church. A member of the choir, from the age of 12 Secombe would perform a sketch entitled ''The Welsh Courtship'' at church socials, acting as "feed" to his sister Carol. His elder brother, [[ | His family were regular churchgoers, belonging to the congregation of St Thomas Church. A member of the choir, from the age of 12 Secombe would perform a sketch entitled ''The Welsh Courtship'' at church socials, acting as "feed" to his sister Carol. His elder brother, [[Fred Secombe|Fred Secombe]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1316865/Flowers-and-fond-farewells-for-Sir-Harry.html|title=Flowers and fond farewells for Sir Harry|first=Richard|last=Alleyne}}</ref> was the author of several books about his experiences as an Anglican priest and rector. | ||
==Army service== | ==Army service== | ||
After leaving school in 1937, Secombe became a pay clerk at Baldwin's store. With war looming, he decided in 1938 that he would join the [[ | After leaving school in 1937, Secombe became a pay clerk at Baldwin's store. With war looming, he decided in 1938 that he would join the [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|Territorial Army]]. Very [[myopia|short sighted]], he got a friend to tell him the sight test, and then learnt it by heart. He served as a [[Lance Bombardier|Lance Bombardier]] in [[132nd (Welsh) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery|No.132 Field Regiment]] of the [[Royal Artillery|Royal Artillery]].<ref name="telegraph.co.uk">{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1315822/Sir-Harry-Secombe.html|title=Sir Harry Secombe|website=www.telegraph.co.uk}}</ref> He referred to the unit in which he served during the [[Second World War|Second World War]] in the [[North African Campaign|North African Campaign]], [[Allied invasion of Sicily|Sicily]], and [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italy]], as "The Five-Mile Snipers". While in North Africa Secombe met [[Spike Milligan]] for the first time.<ref name="entertainmentscene360.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.entertainmentscene360.com/index.php/biography-harry-secombe-7369/|title=Die Besten Wimpern Tipps – Alles über Styling, Pflegeprodukte und vieles mehr|access-date=10 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110201442/http://www.entertainmentscene360.com/index.php/biography-harry-secombe-7369/|archive-date=10 November 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> In Sicily he joined a concert party and developed his own comedy routines to entertain the troops. | ||
When Secombe visited the [[ | When Secombe visited the [[Falkland Islands|Falkland Islands]] to entertain the troops after the 1982 [[Falklands War|Falklands War]], his old regiment promoted him to the rank of sergeant – 37 years after he had been [[demobilization|demobbed]].<ref name="BBCWales"/> | ||
==As an entertainer== | ==As an entertainer== | ||
He made his first radio broadcast in May 1944 on a variety show aimed at the services. Following the end of fighting in the war but prior to demobilisation Secombe joined a pool of entertainers in [[ | He made his first radio broadcast in May 1944 on a variety show aimed at the services. Following the end of fighting in the war but prior to demobilisation Secombe joined a pool of entertainers in [[Naples|Naples]] and formed a comedy duo with [[Spike Milligan]].<ref name="entertainmentscene360.com"/> | ||
Secombe joined the cast of the [[ | Secombe joined the cast of the [[Windmill Theatre|Windmill Theatre]] in 1946, using a routine he had developed in Italy about how people shaved.<ref name="telegraph.co.uk"/> An early review said that Secombe was “an original humorist of the infectious type and is very funny in a series showing how different men shave and in an impression of a vocalist.”<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Stage |journal=The Stage |date=October 10, 1946 |page=3}}</ref> Secombe always claimed that his ability to sing could always be counted on to save him when he bombed. | ||
After a regional touring career, his first break came in radio in 1951 when he was chosen as resident comedian for the Welsh series ''[[ | After a regional touring career, his first break came in radio in 1951 when he was chosen as resident comedian for the Welsh series ''[[Welsh Rarebit (radio programme)|Welsh Rarebit]],''<ref>{{cite journal |title=Nottingham Evening Post |journal=Nottingham Evening Post |date=April 5, 1951 |page=2}}</ref> followed by appearances on ''[[Variety Bandbox|Variety Bandbox]]'' and a regular role in ''[[Educating Archie]]''. | ||
Secombe met [[Michael Bentine]] at the Windmill Theatre, and he was introduced to [[Peter Sellers]] by his agent [[Jimmy Grafton]]. Both Milligan and Sellers credited him with keeping the act on the bill when club owners had wanted to sack them. | Secombe met [[Michael Bentine]] at the Windmill Theatre, and he was introduced to [[Peter Sellers]] by his agent [[Jimmy Grafton]]. Both Milligan and Sellers credited him with keeping the act on the bill when club owners had wanted to sack them. Together with Spike Milligan, the four wrote a comedy radio script, and ''Those Crazy People'' was commissioned<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/thegoonshow/ "Comedy The Goon Show"], BBC website</ref> and first broadcast on 28 May 1951. Produced by [[Dennis Main Wilson]], this soon became ''[[The Goon Show]]'' and the show remained on the air until 1960.<ref name="telegraph.co.uk"/><ref>{{cite book |title= Radio Comedy 1938-1968|last1 = Foster |first1 = Andy| last2 = Furst | first2 = Steve | publisher=Virgin |year=1996 |page=147|isbn=0-86369-960-X}}</ref> Secombe mainly played [[Neddie Seagoon]], around whom the show's absurd plots developed.<ref name="BBCWales"/> In 1955, whilst appearing on ''The Goon Show'', Secombe was approached by the BBC to step in at short notice to take the lead in the radio comedy ''[[Hancock's Half Hour]]''.<ref name="BBC Hancock">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/andrew-secombe-cast-in-missing-hancocks|title=Andrew Secombe cast in his father's role in new episodes of BBC Radio 4's The Missing Hancocks|publisher=BBC Media Centre|access-date=29 March 2017}}</ref> The star of the show, [[Tony Hancock]], had decided to take an unannounced break abroad the day before the live airing of the second season. Secombe appeared in the lead for the first three episodes and had a guest role in the fourth after Hancock's return. All four episodes are lost, but following the discovery of the original scripts the episodes were rerecorded in 2017, with [[Andy Secombe|Andrew Secombe]] performing the role held by his late father.<ref name="BBC Hancock"/><ref name="BBC Radio Times">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2017-03-14/how-radio-4-is-bringing-tony-hancock-back-to-life|title=How Radio 4 is bringing Tony Hancock back to life|magazine=Radio Times|first=Stephen|last=Armstrong|access-date=29 March 2017|date=14 March 2017}}</ref> | ||
With the success of ''The Goon Show'', Secombe developed a dual career as both a comedy actor and a singer. At the beginning of his career as an entertainer his act would end with a joke version of the duet ''[[ | With the success of ''The Goon Show'', Secombe developed a dual career as both a comedy actor and a singer. At the beginning of his career as an entertainer his act would end with a joke version of the duet ''[[Sweethearts (song)|Sweethearts]],'' in which he sang both the [[baritone|baritone]] and [[falsetto|falsetto]] parts. Trained under Italian [[maestro|maestro]] [[Manlio di Veroli|Manlio di Veroli]], he emerged as a ''[[bel canto|bel canto]]'' [[tenor|tenor]] (characteristically, he insisted that in his case this meant "can belto") and had a long list of best-selling record albums to his credit.<ref name="BBCWales">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southwest/halloffame/showbiz/harrysecombe.shtml|title=Sir Harry Secombe|publisher=BBC Wales|access-date=2 March 2009}}</ref> | ||
In 1958 he appeared in the film ''[[ | In 1958 he appeared in the film ''[[Jet Storm|Jet Storm]],'' which starred [[Sybil Thorndike|Dame Sybil Thorndike]] and [[Richard Attenborough|Richard Attenborough]]<!-- he wasn't knighted until 1976. --> and in the same year Secombe starred in the title role in ''[[Davy (film)|Davy]]'', one of [[Ealing Studios|Ealing Studios]]' last films.<ref name="BBCWales"/> | ||
The power of his voice allowed Secombe to appear in many stage [[ | The power of his voice allowed Secombe to appear in many stage [[Musical theater|musicals]]. This included 1963's ''[[Pickwick (musical)|Pickwick]],'' based on [[Charles Dickens|Charles Dickens]]' ''[[The Pickwick Papers|The Pickwick Papers]]'', which gave him the number 18 hit single "[[If I Ruled the World|If I Ruled the World]]" – his later signature tune. In 1965 the show was produced on tour in the United States, where on Broadway he garnered a nomination for a [[Tony Award|Tony Award]] for Best Actor in a Musical.<ref name="BBCWales"/> Secombe scored his biggest hit single in 1967 with his version of "[[This Is My Song (1967 song)|This Is My Song]]", which peaked at no. 2 on the charts in March 1967 while a recording by [[Petula Clark|Petula Clark]], which had hit no. 1 in February, was still in the top ten. He also appeared in the musical ''[[The Four Musketeers (musical)|The Four Musketeers]]'' (1967) at Drury Lane,<ref name="telegraph.co.uk"/> as Mr. Bumble in [[Carol Reed|Carol Reed]]'s film of ''[[Oliver! (film)|Oliver!]]'' (1968), and in the Envy segment of ''[[The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins|The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins]]'' (1971). | ||
He went on to star in his own television show, ''The Harry Secombe Show'', which debuted on Christmas Day 1968 on [[ | He went on to star in his own television show, ''The Harry Secombe Show'', which debuted on Christmas Day 1968 on [[BBC One|BBC 1]] and ran for thirty-one episodes until 1973. A [[sketch comedy|sketch comedy]] show featuring [[Julian Orchard]] as Secombe's regular [[sidekick|sidekick]], the series also featured guest appearances by fellow Goon Spike Milligan as well as leading performers such as [[Ronnie Barker]] and [[Arthur Lowe]]. Secombe later starred in similar vehicles such as ''Sing a Song of Secombe'' and [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]'s ''Secombe with Music'' during the 1970s.<ref>Jack Kibble-White & Steve Williams, ''The Encyclopedia of Classic Saturday Night Telly'', London: 2007, pp 158–9</ref> | ||
==Later career== | ==Later career== | ||
Later in life, Secombe (whose brother [[ | Later in life, Secombe (whose brother [[Fred Secombe|Fred Secombe]] was a priest in the [[Church in Wales|Church in Wales]], part of the [[Anglican|Anglican]] Communion) attracted new audiences as a presenter of religious programmes, such as the [[BBC]]'s ''[[Songs of Praise|Songs of Praise]]'' and [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]'s ''[[Stars on Sunday (TV series)|Stars on Sunday]]'' and ''[[Highway (TV series)|Highway]]''. He was also a special programming consultant to [[ITV Wales & West|Harlech Television]]<ref name="Guardian">{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk_news/story/0,3604,471984,00.html |title=Sir Harry Secombe dies |work=The Guardian|date=11 April 2001 |access-date=4 June 2006}}</ref> and hosted a [[Thames Television|Thames Television]] programme in 1979 entitled ''Cross on the Donkey's Back''. In the latter half of the 1980s, Secombe personally sponsored a football team for boys aged 9–11 in the local West Sutton Little League, 'Secombes Knights'. | ||
In 1990, he was one of a few to be honoured by a second appearance on ''[[ | In 1990, he was one of a few to be honoured by a second appearance on ''[[This Is Your Life (UK TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'', when he was surprised by [[Michael Aspel]] at a book signing in a London branch of WH Smith. Secombe had been a subject of the show previously in March 1958 when [[Eamonn Andrews]] surprised him at the BBC Television Theatre. | ||
==Honours== | ==Honours== | ||
[[File:Sir Harry Secombe plaque (3412015135).jpg|thumb|A [[blue plaque]] commemorating Secombe.]] | [[File:Sir Harry Secombe plaque (3412015135).jpg|thumb|A [[blue plaque|blue plaque]] commemorating Secombe.]] | ||
In 1963 he was appointed a [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (CBE).<ref name="entertainmentscene360.com"/> | In 1963 he was appointed a [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire|Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (CBE).<ref name="entertainmentscene360.com"/> | ||
He was [[Knight Bachelor|knighted]] in 1981,<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/apr/11/1|title=Sir Harry Secombe dies|last=Staff and agencies|website=[[TheGuardian.com]]|date=11 April 2001}}</ref> and jokingly referred to himself as Sir Cumference (in recognition of his rotund figure). The motto he chose for his [[coat of arms]] was "GO ON", a reference to [[The Goon Show | He was [[Knight Bachelor|knighted]] in 1981,<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/apr/11/1|title=Sir Harry Secombe dies|last=Staff and agencies|website=[[TheGuardian.com]]|date=11 April 2001}}</ref> and jokingly referred to himself as Sir Cumference (in recognition of his rotund figure). The motto he chose for his [[coat of arms]] was "GO ON", a reference to [[The Goon Show]]. | ||
==Later life and death== | ==Later life and death== | ||
Secombe suffered from [[ | Secombe suffered from [[peritonitis|peritonitis]] in 1980. Within two years, taking advice from doctors, he had lost five stone in weight.<ref>[[The Unforgettable|The Unforgettable]]</ref> He had a stroke in 1997, from which he made a slow recovery. He was then diagnosed with [[prostate cancer|prostate cancer]] in September 1998. After suffering a second stroke in 1999, he was forced to abandon his television career, but made a documentary about his condition in the hope of giving encouragement to other sufferers.<ref name="TVHeaven">{{cite web| url=http://www.televisionheaven.co.uk/hissecombe.htm| title=Television Heaven: Harry Secombe| access-date=12 February 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051118201531/http://www.televisionheaven.co.uk/hissecombe.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 18 November 2005}}</ref> Secombe had [[diabetes|diabetes]] in the latter part of his life. | ||
Secombe died on {{date|11 April 2001}} at the age of 79, from prostate cancer, in hospital in [[ | Secombe died on {{date|11 April 2001}} at the age of 79, from prostate cancer, in hospital in [[Guildford|Guildford]], Surrey.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1315879/Goon-star-Sir-Harry-Secombe-dies-aged-79.html|title=Goon star Sir Harry Secombe dies aged 79|author=Thomas Penny|date=12 April 2001|work=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref> His ashes are interred at the parish church of [[Shamley Green|Shamley Green]], and a later [[funeral|memorial service]] to celebrate his life was held at [[Westminster Abbey|Westminster Abbey]] on 26 October 2001. As well as family members and friends, the service was also attended by [[Charles, Prince of Wales|Charles]] and representatives of [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|Prince Philip]], [[Anne, Princess Royal|Anne]], [[Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon|Princess Margaret]] and [[Prince Edward, Duke of Kent|Prince Edward]]. On his tombstone is the inscription: "To know him was to love him." | ||
Upon hearing of his old friend's death, [[Spike Milligan]] quipped, "I'm glad he died before me, because I didn't want him to sing at my funeral." But Secombe had the last laugh: upon Milligan's own death the following year, a recording of Secombe singing was played at Spike's memorial service. | Upon hearing of his old friend's death, [[Spike Milligan]] quipped, "I'm glad he died before me, because I didn't want him to sing at my funeral." But Secombe had the last laugh: upon Milligan's own death the following year, a recording of Secombe singing was played at Spike's memorial service. | ||
The [[ | The [[Secombe Theatre|Secombe Theatre]] at [[Sutton, Greater London|Sutton]], bears his name in memory of this former local personality. He is also fondly remembered at the [[London Welsh Centre|London Welsh Centre]], where he opened the bar on [[St Patrick's Day|St Patrick's Day]] (17 March) 1971.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.londonwelsh.org/about-us/history-of-the-centre |title=History: London Welsh Centre |publisher=[[London Welsh Centre|London Welsh Centre]] |year=2009|access-date=4 February 2011|work=[[London Welsh Centre|London Welsh Centre]] website}}</ref> | ||
==Family== | ==Family== | ||
Secombe met Myra Joan Atherton at the Mumbles Dance Hall in 1946. The couple were married from 1948 until his death, and had four children: | Secombe met Myra Joan Atherton at the Mumbles Dance Hall in 1946. The couple were married from 1948 until his death, and had four children: | ||
* Jennifer Secombe (died 2019),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/sep/02/jennifer-secombe-obituary|title=Jennifer Secombe obituary|first=Sam Secombe|last=Stock|date=2 September 2019|website=the Guardian}}</ref> widow of actor [[Alex Giannini]]. She was her father's agent in his later years. | * Jennifer Secombe (died 2019),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/sep/02/jennifer-secombe-obituary|title=Jennifer Secombe obituary|first=Sam Secombe|last=Stock|date=2 September 2019|website=the Guardian}}</ref> widow of actor [[Alex Giannini|Alex Giannini]]. She was her father's agent in his later years. | ||
* [[ | * [[Andy Secombe|Andy Secombe]], a [[voice actor|voice actor]], film actor and author | ||
* David Secombe, a writer and photographer | * David Secombe, a writer and photographer | ||
* Katy Secombe, an actress | * Katy Secombe, an actress | ||
| Line 83: | Line 80: | ||
===Singles=== | ===Singles=== | ||
* "[[On with the Motley]]" ([[Vesti la giubba]]) (1955) UK #6 | * "[[On with the Motley]]" ([[Vesti la giubba|Vesti la giubba]]) (1955) UK #6 | ||
* "[[Bless This House (song)|Bless This House]]" | * "[[Bless This House (song)|Bless This House]]" | ||
* "[[If I Ruled the World]]" (1963) UK #18 | * "[[If I Ruled the World|If I Ruled the World]]" (1963) UK #18 | ||
* "[[This Is My Song (1967 song)|This Is My Song]]" (1967) UK #2<ref name="Singles">''[[Guinness Book of British Hit Singles]]'', 7th ed., 1989</ref> | * "[[This Is My Song (1967 song)|This Is My Song]]" (1967) UK #2<ref name="Singles">''[[Guinness Book of British Hit Singles|]]'', 7th ed., 1989</ref> | ||
===Albums=== | ===Albums=== | ||
| Line 107: | Line 104: | ||
====Fiction==== | ====Fiction==== | ||
* ''[[Twice Brightly]]'' (1974) Robson Books {{ISBN|0903895234}} | * ''[[Twice Brightly|Twice Brightly]]'' (1974) Robson Books {{ISBN|0903895234}} | ||
* ''Welsh Fargo'' (1981) Robson Books {{ISBN|0903895870}} | * ''Welsh Fargo'' (1981) Robson Books {{ISBN|0903895870}} | ||
| Line 118: | Line 115: | ||
* ''Arias and Raspberries'' (1989) Robson Books {{ISBN|0860516245}} | * ''Arias and Raspberries'' (1989) Robson Books {{ISBN|0860516245}} | ||
* ''Strawberries and Cheam'' (1998) Robson Books {{ISBN|1861050488}} | * ''Strawberries and Cheam'' (1998) Robson Books {{ISBN|1861050488}} | ||
* {{citation |year=2001 |title=An Entertaining Life |series=Foreword by [[Royal Highness|HRH]] [[Charles, Prince of Wales]] |place= London |publisher=[[Robson Books]] |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mLmlEAvqwrYC&q=harry+secombe |access-date=24 August 2010 |isbn= 1-86105-471-8}} Alternative ISBNs for 2004 publication: {{ISBN|978-1-86105-811-9}}; {{ISBN|1-86105-811-X}} (paperback). | * {{citation |year=2001 |title=An Entertaining Life |series=Foreword by [[Royal Highness|HRH]] [[Charles, Prince of Wales|Charles]] |place= London |publisher=[[Robson Books|Robson Books]] |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mLmlEAvqwrYC&q=harry+secombe |access-date=24 August 2010 |isbn= 1-86105-471-8}} Alternative ISBNs for 2004 publication: {{ISBN|978-1-86105-811-9}}; {{ISBN|1-86105-811-X}} (paperback). | ||
===Partial Filmography=== | ===Partial Filmography=== | ||
| Line 133: | Line 130: | ||
| ''[[Helter Skelter (1949 film)|Helter Skelter]]'' | | ''[[Helter Skelter (1949 film)|Helter Skelter]]'' | ||
| Alf | | Alf | ||
| [[Ralph Thomas]] | | [[Ralph Thomas|Ralph Thomas]] | ||
| | | | ||
| Uncredited | | Uncredited | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 1951 | | 1951 | ||
| ''[[Penny Points to Paradise]]'' | | ''[[Penny Points to Paradise|Penny Points to Paradise]]'' | ||
| Harry Flakers | | Harry Flakers | ||
| [[Tony Young (director)|Tony Young]] | | [[Tony Young (director)|Tony Young]] | ||
| Line 147: | Line 144: | ||
| ''[[Down Among the Z Men]]'' | | ''[[Down Among the Z Men]]'' | ||
| Harry Jones | | Harry Jones | ||
| [[Maclean Rogers]] | | [[Maclean Rogers|Maclean Rogers]] | ||
| | | | ||
| | | | ||
| Line 154: | Line 151: | ||
|''[[Forces' Sweetheart (film)|Forces' Sweetheart]]'' | |''[[Forces' Sweetheart (film)|Forces' Sweetheart]]'' | ||
| Harry Llewellyn | | Harry Llewellyn | ||
| [[Maclean Rogers]] | | [[Maclean Rogers|Maclean Rogers]] | ||
| | | | ||
| | | | ||
| Line 162: | Line 159: | ||
|Barizel | |Barizel | ||
|[[Noel Langley]] | |[[Noel Langley]] | ||
|[[Hildegard Knef]], [[Donald Wolfit]], [[Terence Morgan]] | |[[Hildegard Knef|Hildegard Knef]], [[Donald Wolfit|Donald Wolfit]], [[Terence Morgan|Terence Morgan]] | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 168: | Line 165: | ||
|''[[Davy (film)|Davy]]'' | |''[[Davy (film)|Davy]]'' | ||
|Davy Morgan | |Davy Morgan | ||
|[[Michael Relph]] | |[[Michael Relph|Michael Relph]] | ||
|[[Ron Randell]], [[Susan Shaw]], [[Alexander Knox]] | |[[Ron Randell|Ron Randell]], [[Susan Shaw|Susan Shaw]], [[Alexander Knox|Alexander Knox]] | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 1959 | | 1959 | ||
|''[[Jet Storm]]'' | |''[[Jet Storm|Jet Storm]]'' | ||
|Binky Meadows | |Binky Meadows | ||
|[[Cy Endfield]] | |[[Cy Endfield|Cy Endfield]] | ||
|[[Richard Attenborough]], [[Stanley Baker]] | |[[Richard Attenborough|Richard Attenborough]], [[Stanley Baker|Stanley Baker]] | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 182: | Line 179: | ||
|''[[Oliver! (film)|Oliver!]]'' | |''[[Oliver! (film)|Oliver!]]'' | ||
| Mr. Bumble | | Mr. Bumble | ||
| [[Carol Reed]] | | [[Carol Reed|Carol Reed]] | ||
| | | | ||
| | | | ||
| Line 189: | Line 186: | ||
|''[[The Bed Sitting Room (film)|The Bed Sitting Room]]'' | |''[[The Bed Sitting Room (film)|The Bed Sitting Room]]'' | ||
| Shelter Man | | Shelter Man | ||
| [[Richard Lester]] | | [[Richard Lester|Richard Lester]] | ||
| | | | ||
| | | | ||
| Line 203: | Line 200: | ||
|''[[Doctor in Trouble]]'' | |''[[Doctor in Trouble]]'' | ||
| Llewellyn Wendover | | Llewellyn Wendover | ||
| [[Ralph Thomas]] | | [[Ralph Thomas|Ralph Thomas]] | ||
| | | | ||
| | | | ||
| Line 209: | Line 206: | ||
| 1970 | | 1970 | ||
|''[[Song of Norway (film)|Song of Norway]]'' | |''[[Song of Norway (film)|Song of Norway]]'' | ||
| {{nowrap|[[Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson]]}} | | {{nowrap|[[Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson|Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson]]}} | ||
| [[Andrew L. Stone]] | | [[Andrew L. Stone|Andrew L. Stone]] | ||
| | | | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
|1971 | |1971 | ||
| {{nowrap|''[[The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins]]''}} | | {{nowrap|''[[The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins|The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins]]''}} | ||
|Stanley | |Stanley | ||
|[[Graham Stark]] | |[[Graham Stark]] | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| 1972 | | 1972 | ||
|''[[Sunstruck]]'' | |''[[Sunstruck|Sunstruck]]'' | ||
| Stanley Evans | | Stanley Evans | ||
| [[James Gilbert (producer)|James Gilbert]] | | [[James Gilbert (producer)|James Gilbert]] | ||
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==External links== | ==External links== | ||
* {{IMDb name|id=0781183}} | * {{IMDb name|id=0781183}} | ||
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/harry-secombe/ Harry Secombe biography from BBC Wales] | * [https://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/harry-secombe/ Harry Secombe biography from BBC Wales] | ||
{{Goons | {{Goons|state=collapsed}} | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Secombe, Harry}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Secombe, Harry}} | ||
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[[Category:British Army personnel of World War II]] | [[Category:British Army personnel of World War II]] | ||
[[Category:Burials in Surrey]] | [[Category:Burials in Surrey]] | ||
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]] | [[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]] | ||
[[Category:Knights Bachelor]] | [[Category:Knights Bachelor]] | ||
[[Category:Actors awarded knighthoods]] | [[Category:Actors awarded knighthoods]] | ||
Latest revision as of 21:11, 11 September 2024
Harry Secombe | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Harold Donald Secombe 8 September 1921 St Thomas, Wales |
| Died | 11 April 2001 (aged 79) |
| Nationality | Welsh |
| Education | Dynevor School, Swansea |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1946–2001 |
| Television | The Goon Show (Radio) The Harry Secombe Show, Secombe And Friends, Highway (TV) Sunday Morning with Secombe (TV) |
| Spouse |
Myra Atherton (m. 1948) |
| Children | 4; including Andy |
| Relatives | Fred Secombe (brother) |
Sir Harold Donald Secombe CBE (8 September 1921 – 11 April 2001) was a Welsh comedian, actor, singer and television presenter. Secombe was a member of the British radio comedy programme The Goon Show (1951–1960), playing many characters, most notably Neddie Seagoon. An accomplished tenor, he also appeared in musicals and films – notably as Bumble in Oliver! (1968) – and, in his later years, was a presenter of television shows incorporating hymns and other devotional songs.
Early life
Secombe was born in St Thomas, the third of four children of Nellie Jane Gladys (née Davies), a shop manageress, and Frederick Ernest Secombe, a commercial traveller and office worker for a Swansea wholesale grocery business.[1][2][3] From the age of 11 he attended Dynevor School, a state grammar school in central Swansea.
His family were regular churchgoers, belonging to the congregation of St Thomas Church. A member of the choir, from the age of 12 Secombe would perform a sketch entitled The Welsh Courtship at church socials, acting as "feed" to his sister Carol. His elder brother, Fred Secombe,[4] was the author of several books about his experiences as an Anglican priest and rector.
Army service
After leaving school in 1937, Secombe became a pay clerk at Baldwin's store. With war looming, he decided in 1938 that he would join the Territorial Army. Very short sighted, he got a friend to tell him the sight test, and then learnt it by heart. He served as a Lance Bombardier in No.132 Field Regiment of the Royal Artillery.[5] He referred to the unit in which he served during the Second World War in the North African Campaign, Sicily, and Italy, as "The Five-Mile Snipers". While in North Africa Secombe met Spike Milligan for the first time.[6] In Sicily he joined a concert party and developed his own comedy routines to entertain the troops.
When Secombe visited the Falkland Islands to entertain the troops after the 1982 Falklands War, his old regiment promoted him to the rank of sergeant – 37 years after he had been demobbed.[7]
As an entertainer
He made his first radio broadcast in May 1944 on a variety show aimed at the services. Following the end of fighting in the war but prior to demobilisation Secombe joined a pool of entertainers in Naples and formed a comedy duo with Spike Milligan.[6]
Secombe joined the cast of the Windmill Theatre in 1946, using a routine he had developed in Italy about how people shaved.[5] An early review said that Secombe was “an original humorist of the infectious type and is very funny in a series showing how different men shave and in an impression of a vocalist.”[8] Secombe always claimed that his ability to sing could always be counted on to save him when he bombed.
After a regional touring career, his first break came in radio in 1951 when he was chosen as resident comedian for the Welsh series Welsh Rarebit,[9] followed by appearances on Variety Bandbox and a regular role in Educating Archie.
Secombe met Michael Bentine at the Windmill Theatre, and he was introduced to Peter Sellers by his agent Jimmy Grafton. Both Milligan and Sellers credited him with keeping the act on the bill when club owners had wanted to sack them. Together with Spike Milligan, the four wrote a comedy radio script, and Those Crazy People was commissioned[10] and first broadcast on 28 May 1951. Produced by Dennis Main Wilson, this soon became The Goon Show and the show remained on the air until 1960.[5][11] Secombe mainly played Neddie Seagoon, around whom the show's absurd plots developed.[7] In 1955, whilst appearing on The Goon Show, Secombe was approached by the BBC to step in at short notice to take the lead in the radio comedy Hancock's Half Hour.[12] The star of the show, Tony Hancock, had decided to take an unannounced break abroad the day before the live airing of the second season. Secombe appeared in the lead for the first three episodes and had a guest role in the fourth after Hancock's return. All four episodes are lost, but following the discovery of the original scripts the episodes were rerecorded in 2017, with Andrew Secombe performing the role held by his late father.[12][13]
With the success of The Goon Show, Secombe developed a dual career as both a comedy actor and a singer. At the beginning of his career as an entertainer his act would end with a joke version of the duet Sweethearts, in which he sang both the baritone and falsetto parts. Trained under Italian maestro Manlio di Veroli, he emerged as a bel canto tenor (characteristically, he insisted that in his case this meant "can belto") and had a long list of best-selling record albums to his credit.[7]
In 1958 he appeared in the film Jet Storm, which starred Dame Sybil Thorndike and Richard Attenborough and in the same year Secombe starred in the title role in Davy, one of Ealing Studios' last films.[7]
The power of his voice allowed Secombe to appear in many stage musicals. This included 1963's Pickwick, based on Charles Dickens' The Pickwick Papers, which gave him the number 18 hit single "If I Ruled the World" – his later signature tune. In 1965 the show was produced on tour in the United States, where on Broadway he garnered a nomination for a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical.[7] Secombe scored his biggest hit single in 1967 with his version of "This Is My Song", which peaked at no. 2 on the charts in March 1967 while a recording by Petula Clark, which had hit no. 1 in February, was still in the top ten. He also appeared in the musical The Four Musketeers (1967) at Drury Lane,[5] as Mr. Bumble in Carol Reed's film of Oliver! (1968), and in the Envy segment of The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins (1971).
He went on to star in his own television show, The Harry Secombe Show, which debuted on Christmas Day 1968 on BBC 1 and ran for thirty-one episodes until 1973. A sketch comedy show featuring Julian Orchard as Secombe's regular sidekick, the series also featured guest appearances by fellow Goon Spike Milligan as well as leading performers such as Ronnie Barker and Arthur Lowe. Secombe later starred in similar vehicles such as Sing a Song of Secombe and ITV's Secombe with Music during the 1970s.[14]
Later career
Later in life, Secombe (whose brother Fred Secombe was a priest in the Church in Wales, part of the Anglican Communion) attracted new audiences as a presenter of religious programmes, such as the BBC's Songs of Praise and ITV's Stars on Sunday and Highway. He was also a special programming consultant to Harlech Television[15] and hosted a Thames Television programme in 1979 entitled Cross on the Donkey's Back. In the latter half of the 1980s, Secombe personally sponsored a football team for boys aged 9–11 in the local West Sutton Little League, 'Secombes Knights'.
In 1990, he was one of a few to be honoured by a second appearance on This Is Your Life, when he was surprised by Michael Aspel at a book signing in a London branch of WH Smith. Secombe had been a subject of the show previously in March 1958 when Eamonn Andrews surprised him at the BBC Television Theatre.
Honours
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A blue plaque commemorating Secombe.
In 1963 he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).[6]
He was knighted in 1981,[16] and jokingly referred to himself as Sir Cumference (in recognition of his rotund figure). The motto he chose for his coat of arms was "GO ON", a reference to The Goon Show.
Later life and death
Secombe suffered from peritonitis in 1980. Within two years, taking advice from doctors, he had lost five stone in weight.[17] He had a stroke in 1997, from which he made a slow recovery. He was then diagnosed with prostate cancer in September 1998. After suffering a second stroke in 1999, he was forced to abandon his television career, but made a documentary about his condition in the hope of giving encouragement to other sufferers.[18] Secombe had diabetes in the latter part of his life.
Secombe died on 11 April 2001 at the age of 79, from prostate cancer, in hospital in Guildford, Surrey.[19] His ashes are interred at the parish church of Shamley Green, and a later memorial service to celebrate his life was held at Westminster Abbey on 26 October 2001. As well as family members and friends, the service was also attended by Charles and representatives of Prince Philip, Anne, Princess Margaret and Prince Edward. On his tombstone is the inscription: "To know him was to love him."
Upon hearing of his old friend's death, Spike Milligan quipped, "I'm glad he died before me, because I didn't want him to sing at my funeral." But Secombe had the last laugh: upon Milligan's own death the following year, a recording of Secombe singing was played at Spike's memorial service.
The Secombe Theatre at Sutton, bears his name in memory of this former local personality. He is also fondly remembered at the London Welsh Centre, where he opened the bar on St Patrick's Day (17 March) 1971.[20]
Family
Secombe met Myra Joan Atherton at the Mumbles Dance Hall in 1946. The couple were married from 1948 until his death, and had four children:
- Jennifer Secombe (died 2019),[21] widow of actor Alex Giannini. She was her father's agent in his later years.
- Andy Secombe, a voice actor, film actor and author
- David Secombe, a writer and photographer
- Katy Secombe, an actress
Myra, Lady Secombe died on 7 February 2017, aged 93.[22][23]
Selected works
Singles
- "On with the Motley" (Vesti la giubba) (1955) UK #6
- "Bless This House"
- "If I Ruled the World" (1963) UK #18
- "This Is My Song" (1967) UK #2[24]
Albums
- Sacred Songs (1962) UK #16
- Pickwick (Original Cast Album) (1965)
- Secombe's Personal Choice (1967) UK #6
- If I Ruled the World (1971) UK #17
- The Magnificent Voice of Harry Secombe (1972) AUS #14[25]
- With a Song My Heart (1977) AUS #24[25]
- Captain Beaky and His Band(1977)[26]
- Bless This House: 20 Songs of Joy (1978) UK #8, AUS #28[25]
- This Is My Song (1983) AUS #9[25]
- All Things Bring and Beautiful (1983) AUS #31[25]
- Songs for Everyone (1986) AUS #43[25]
- Highway of Life (1986) UK #45
- Count Your Blessings (1988) AUS #93[25]
- Your Sincerely (1991) UK #46[27][28]
Books
Fiction
- Twice Brightly (1974) Robson Books ISBN 0903895234
- Welsh Fargo (1981) Robson Books ISBN 0903895870
Children's
- Katy and the Nurgla (1980) ISBN 0140311890
Autobiographical
- Goon for Lunch (1975) M. J. Hobbs ISBN 0718112830
- Goon Abroad (1982) Robson Books ISBN 0860511936
- Arias and Raspberries (1989) Robson Books ISBN 0860516245
- Strawberries and Cheam (1998) Robson Books ISBN 1861050488
- An Entertaining Life, Foreword by HRH Charles, London: Robson Books, 2001, ISBN 1-86105-471-8, retrieved 24 August 2010 Alternative ISBNs for 2004 publication: ISBN 978-1-86105-811-9; ISBN 1-86105-811-X (paperback).
Partial Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Director | Co-stars | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | Helter Skelter | Alf | Ralph Thomas | Uncredited | |
| 1951 | Penny Points to Paradise | Harry Flakers | Tony Young | ||
| 1952 | Down Among the Z Men | Harry Jones | Maclean Rogers | ||
| 1953 | Forces' Sweetheart | Harry Llewellyn | Maclean Rogers | ||
| 1954 | Svengali | Barizel | Noel Langley | Hildegard Knef, Donald Wolfit, Terence Morgan | |
| 1957 | Davy | Davy Morgan | Michael Relph | Ron Randell, Susan Shaw, Alexander Knox | |
| 1959 | Jet Storm | Binky Meadows | Cy Endfield | Richard Attenborough, Stanley Baker | |
| 1968 | Oliver! | Mr. Bumble | Carol Reed | ||
| 1969 | The Bed Sitting Room | Shelter Man | Richard Lester | ||
| 1969 | Pickwick | Mr. Pickwick | Terry Hughes | Roy Castle, Hattie Jacques | |
| 1970 | Doctor in Trouble | Llewellyn Wendover | Ralph Thomas | ||
| 1970 | Song of Norway | Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson | Andrew L. Stone | ||
| 1971 | The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins | Stanley | Graham Stark | (segment "Envy") | |
| 1972 | Sunstruck | Stanley Evans | James Gilbert |
References
- ^ "BBC – Error 404 : Not Found". Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
- ^ Secombe, Harry (1989). Arias & raspberries: the autobiography of Harry Secombe. 'The raspberry years'., Volume 1. Robson. p. 14. ISBN 0-86051-624-5.
- ^ Gale, Steven H. (1995). Encyclopedia of British humorists. Taylor & Francis. p. 926. ISBN 0-8240-5990-5.
- ^ Alleyne, Richard. "Flowers and fond farewells for Sir Harry".
- ^ a b c d "Sir Harry Secombe". www.telegraph.co.uk.
- ^ a b c "Die Besten Wimpern Tipps – Alles über Styling, Pflegeprodukte und vieles mehr". Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
- ^ a b c d e "Sir Harry Secombe". BBC Wales. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
- ^ "The Stage". The Stage: 3. October 10, 1946.
- ^ "Nottingham Evening Post". Nottingham Evening Post: 2. April 5, 1951.
- ^ "Comedy The Goon Show", BBC website
- ^ Foster, Andy; Furst, Steve (1996). Radio Comedy 1938-1968. Virgin. p. 147. ISBN 0-86369-960-X.
- ^ a b "Andrew Secombe cast in his father's role in new episodes of BBC Radio 4's The Missing Hancocks". BBC Media Centre. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
- ^ Armstrong, Stephen (14 March 2017). "How Radio 4 is bringing Tony Hancock back to life". Radio Times. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
- ^ Jack Kibble-White & Steve Williams, The Encyclopedia of Classic Saturday Night Telly, London: 2007, pp 158–9
- ^ "Sir Harry Secombe dies". The Guardian. 11 April 2001. Retrieved 4 June 2006.
- ^ Staff and agencies (11 April 2001). "Sir Harry Secombe dies". TheGuardian.com.
- ^ The Unforgettable
- ^ "Television Heaven: Harry Secombe". Archived from the original on 18 November 2005. Retrieved 12 February 2006.
- ^ Thomas Penny (12 April 2001). "Goon star Sir Harry Secombe dies aged 79". The Daily Telegraph.
- ^ "History: London Welsh Centre". London Welsh Centre website. London Welsh Centre. 2009. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
- ^ Stock, Sam Secombe (2 September 2019). "Jennifer Secombe obituary". the Guardian.
- ^ Perkins, Liz (21 February 2018). "Comedy legend Sir Harry Secombe's widow has died". WalesOnline.
- ^ "PressReader.com - Your favorite newspapers and magazines". www.pressreader.com.
- ^ [[Guinness Book of British Hit Singles|]], 7th ed., 1989
- ^ a b c d e f g Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 267. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 8 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-15.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Harry Secombe". Official Charts. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
- ^ Guinness Book of British Hit Albums 1st ed., 1983 ISBN 0-85112-246-9
External links
Categories:
- Pages with script errors
- CS1 maint: archived copy as title
- 1921 births
- 2001 deaths
- 20th-century Welsh comedians
- 21st-century Welsh comedians
- 20th-century Welsh male singers
- 21st-century Welsh male singers
- 20th-century Welsh male actors
- 21st-century Welsh male actors
- British Army personnel of World War II
- Burials in Surrey
- Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
- Knights Bachelor
- Actors awarded knighthoods
- Singers awarded knighthoods
- Male actors from Swansea
- Royal Artillery soldiers
- Welsh Anglicans
- Welsh male comedians
- Welsh male film actors
- Welsh male musical theatre actors
- Welsh male radio actors
- Welsh male television actors
- Welsh tenors
- British male comedy actors
- People educated at Dynevor School, Swansea
- The Goon Show
