Person    | Male  Born 8/9/1921  Died 11/4/2001

Harry Secombe

Actor, comedian and singer. Born Harry Donald Secombe in St Thomas, Swansea where he grew up. In WW2 he served in the Royal Artillery, and whilst in North Africa he first met Spike Milligan. After the war, he joined the cast of the Windmill Theatre, where he met Michael Bentine and Peter Sellers. The Goon Show was the result of these meetings and Secombe played Neddie Seagoon until the show ended in 1972. He appeared in several films, including 'Oliver!' in which he played Mr Bumble the Beadle, and on stage, he created the title role in the musical 'Pickwick'.
He had his own television show for several years, and was a presenter of the religious programmes, 'Songs of Praise' and 'Stars on Sunday'. When Milligan heard of Secombe's death, he jokingly said that he was glad he had died first because he didn't want him singing at his funeral. Secombe however had the last laugh, as one of his recordings was played at Spike's memorial service. 

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Harry Secombe

Commemorated ati

Last Goon Show

The Camden Palace was home to the Goon Show through the 1950s.

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Spike's statue - Goons

This little group shows Secombe, Milligan and Sellers, holding "Goons" script...

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The Goon Show

{Caricatures of the four comedians, followed by:} The Goon Show, 1951-1960, f...

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Other Subjects

Moulin Cinema

Moulin Cinema

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1 memorial
First cinema in Britain

First cinema in Britain

It was in Regent Street that a film was first played to a paying audience in Britain, whereas King's Hall Picture Palace is thought to have been the first purpose-built cinema in Britain.

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2 memorials
Malcolm Craddock

Malcolm Craddock

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1 memorial
Shirley Anne Field

Shirley Anne Field

Actor. Born Shirley Broomfield in Bolton, Lancashire. She started her career as a glamour model. Laurence Olivier chose her to play the prime female role in the film 'The Entertainer' and she also ...

Person, Cinema, Theatre, TV & Radio

1 memorial
Gaumont

Gaumont

International film company.  Formed in France by engineer-inventor Leon Gaumont. 

Group, Cinema, France

1 memorial