8th September 2021 marks the centenary birthday of
Harry Secombe.
 |
| Harry Secombe |
Harry Donald Secombe born St. Thomas, Swansea.
Harry was the third of four children, to
Frederick Ernest Secombe, a commercial traveller and office worker for a
Swansea wholesales grocery business and shop manageress, Nellie Jane Gladys.
Fred Secombe was the older brother, who was born two years
earlier, 1918 was named after their father.
Fred was a Welsh Anglican clergyman and an author. Fred died December 2016.
From the age 11 Henry attended Dynevor School
 |
| Dynevor School |
Dynevor School had opened 1883, and by 1894 it had moved to Dynevor
Place, where it could accommodate 500 pupils.
1907, it was to become known as Swansea Municipal School, by 1930
it changed its name to Dynevor School, and
yet again it changed its name in 1942, to Dynevor Secondary Grammar School.
Further changed in 1971, when it became a
comprehensive school, and 1978 it amalgamated with Llwyn-y-Bryn Girls
School.
Dynevor finally closed in 2002.
Dynevor’s notable alumni, include Spencer Davis, musician
who formed The Spencer Davis Group. The band
had several hits during 1960s, including “Keep on Running”, “Gimme
Some Lovin’”; Nigel Evans, Conservative MP; Mal Pope, musician and composer
and Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury.
After finishing school, Harry became a pay clerk for Baldwin’s
Store, the following year, 1938, he joined the Territorial Army. Having very short sight, he had a friend to
tell the sight test, and he learnt it by heart.
Harry ranked as a Lance Bombardier served with the Royal Artillery. It is with the Royal Artillery, whom Harry
served with during the Second World War.
Seeing action, with the North African Campaign, Sicily and Italy.
 |
| Spike Milligan |
It was at North Africa, that Harry first met Spike
Milligan.
During 1944, Harry made his
first radio broadcast on a variety show for the armed forces.
After the end of the war, and prior to be
being demobbed Harry joined a pool of entertainers in Naples, it was here where
he formed a comedy duo with Spike Milligan.
 |
| Windmill Theatre |
The following year, 1946, Harry joined the cast of Windmill Theatre,
London.
It was here that Harry, met
Michael Bentine and was introduced to Peter Sellers.
Both Harry and Spike wrote a comedy spirit for
Those Crazy People, which was first broadcasted May 1951. It is this
shown, which became the
Goon Show, being on the air until 1960.
With the success of the Goon Show, Harry developed a
dual career of comedy actor and a singer.
With numerous appearances in films, Harry also appeared in many stage musicals,
included 1962s Pickwick. Harry would also star in his own show, The
Harry Secombe Show, which aired Christmas Day, 1968, which ran until 1973.
Harry died April 2001, Guildford, and his ashes interred at
the parish church Shamley Green.
The parish church of St. Thomas, Swansea, has a blue plaque commemorating that Harry was a boy chorister of the church.
 |
| Tommy Cooper |
Earlier during 1921, Tommy Cooper, was born, 19
th
March.
 |
| Alfred Mond |
1
st April Alfred Mond, the Member of Parliament for
the new constituency of Swansea West, 1918.
Alfred had MP for Swansea since 1910.
1921, saw Alfred being appointed the Minister of Health.
Meanwhile, at the UKs first oil refinery at Llandancy the
Anglo-Persian Oil Company Limited begins work.
The Lower Swansea Valley, see the last of the copper
smelting.
 |
Saunders Lewis
1916 |
The new drama,
The Eve of St. John, by Saunders Lewis.
A comedy about Welsh life.
 |
| Plaid Cymru |
Saunders, the prominent Welsh nationalist was one of the
founders of Plaid Genedlaethol Cymru (the National Party of Wales), later to be
known as Plaid Cymru.
1970, Saunders was nominated for the Nobel Prize in
Literature.
Saunders also has a blue on the house, where he lived Hanover Street
Comments
Post a Comment