The poems listed on this webpage are protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published, or broadcast without the prior written permission of the copyright holder. Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited.
One Of The Best by Graham Mills
Harry Secombe went to my school
And a certain teacher used to say..
‘He not only played the comedy role’
‘He had other talents too, okay’
The teacher was trying to relay a message
That you need to work as well as play
Larking about and jokes are fine
‘But sometimes be serious’, he’d say
But messing about laughter and comedy
Were part of Harry Secombe’s core
And what he’s often remembered for
But of course - there was so much more
He was in Dynevor school in the 1930’s
Forty years before I was there
But the fact that his name was mentioned
Tells us how proud they were
Of course we know of his humour from old clips
Of the Goon Show’s legendary quips
But we may not appreciate the depth of talent
Of this Swansea man, this true gent
l’m now older, and maybe wiser
And can now appreciate the greatness
Of this comedian, singer, actor, writer
And, of course - TV Presenter
The great personality and character
Of this multi talented entertainer
Was really something to behold
He was one of the best - if I can be so bold
But can you imagine what it was like
When he first met a man named Spike
It was North Africa, in the second world war
A story that’s amazing, bizarre…
A two ton gun crashing down, just missing everyone
Then Spike Milligan asking - ‘anyone seen a gun’
And Harry famously replying - ‘what colour’
In the midst of war, what great sense of humour
A sense of humour that connected them both
And which stayed with them forever
Yes, of all Harry Secombe’s gifts to us
The most precious, for me - was laughter
Harry Secombe went to my school
And a certain teacher used to say..
‘He not only played the comedy role’
‘He had other talents too, okay’
The teacher was trying to relay a message
That you need to work as well as play
Larking about and jokes are fine
‘But sometimes be serious’, he’d say
But messing about laughter and comedy
Were part of Harry Secombe’s core
And what he’s often remembered for
But of course - there was so much more
He was in Dynevor school in the 1930’s
Forty years before I was there
But the fact that his name was mentioned
Tells us how proud they were
Of course we know of his humour from old clips
Of the Goon Show’s legendary quips
But we may not appreciate the depth of talent
Of this Swansea man, this true gent
l’m now older, and maybe wiser
And can now appreciate the greatness
Of this comedian, singer, actor, writer
And, of course - TV Presenter
The great personality and character
Of this multi talented entertainer
Was really something to behold
He was one of the best - if I can be so bold
But can you imagine what it was like
When he first met a man named Spike
It was North Africa, in the second world war
A story that’s amazing, bizarre…
A two ton gun crashing down, just missing everyone
Then Spike Milligan asking - ‘anyone seen a gun’
And Harry famously replying - ‘what colour’
In the midst of war, what great sense of humour
A sense of humour that connected them both
And which stayed with them forever
Yes, of all Harry Secombe’s gifts to us
The most precious, for me - was laughter
'Sir Harry Secombe' by Arthur Cole
A comedy godfather, is how Harry's described,
an all-round entertainer, filling us with pride.
With humour unique, Harry 'Ruled the world'
puncturing pomposity, in no way perturbed.
A jocular character, sense of humour extreme,
with his mate Spike, a comedic dream team.
Scatalogical gags, eccentricity to the limit,
with Sellers and Bentine, becoming complicit
They were insane, bizarre, absurd, humour surreal,
four subversive Goons, their entertainment unreal.
A bel cantor tenor, a star of stage and screen,
on one Royal Variety, blew raspberries at our Queen.
An entertainment great, a Welsh national treasure,
singing or acting, Harry gave so much pleasure.
Roots never forgotten, Harry took fame in his stride,
a proud Swansea Jack, until the day that he died..
A comedy godfather, is how Harry's described,
an all-round entertainer, filling us with pride.
With humour unique, Harry 'Ruled the world'
puncturing pomposity, in no way perturbed.
A jocular character, sense of humour extreme,
with his mate Spike, a comedic dream team.
Scatalogical gags, eccentricity to the limit,
with Sellers and Bentine, becoming complicit
They were insane, bizarre, absurd, humour surreal,
four subversive Goons, their entertainment unreal.
A bel cantor tenor, a star of stage and screen,
on one Royal Variety, blew raspberries at our Queen.
An entertainment great, a Welsh national treasure,
singing or acting, Harry gave so much pleasure.
Roots never forgotten, Harry took fame in his stride,
a proud Swansea Jack, until the day that he died..
Neddie Seagoon by Lorraine Voss
To Née and Fred a Swansea son
by name of Harry Secombe;
who, grown up soon
became a Goon
and later still would become
Oliver's Mr Bumble,
then on to Songs of Praise.
If I ruled the world?
He could sing it all my days.
Hear the poem HERE
To Née and Fred a Swansea son
by name of Harry Secombe;
who, grown up soon
became a Goon
and later still would become
Oliver's Mr Bumble,
then on to Songs of Praise.
If I ruled the world?
He could sing it all my days.
Hear the poem HERE
𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙣 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙉𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣 by Andrew Challis
What a sense of humour this man had
what a singing voice too
Swansea boy Harry Secombe in the city born and grew
Harry well known to many comedic icon with The Goons
as an accomplished tenor he sang many hymns and tunes
He appeared in films and musicals with many to his name
as Mr. Bumble in 'Oliver!' Harry drew great acclaim
Such a career Harry had distinguished and prestigious
in later years he presented programmes devotional and religious
Harry he was lovable
famed was his cheeky smile
that infectious laugh
he was a boy and a half
he'd leave you chuckling for a while
The Goon Show was before my time but when old enough and ready
my Dad would play me tapes of them
I loved Harry's Seagoon Neddy
This man was a showbiz giant well loved by everyone
that brilliant tenor voice
that wicked sense of fun
At the beginning of the 80s Harry he was knighted,
an honour he was proud of this Welshman was delighted
In the year 2001
God called him away,
many at his funeral their respects they came to pay
To celebrate his life and remember his successes
mourners at the service included princes and princesses
Sir Harry Secombe CBE fondly remembered to this day
fondly with love
Harry's up above having travelled life's 'Highway'.
Hear the poem HERE
What a sense of humour this man had
what a singing voice too
Swansea boy Harry Secombe in the city born and grew
Harry well known to many comedic icon with The Goons
as an accomplished tenor he sang many hymns and tunes
He appeared in films and musicals with many to his name
as Mr. Bumble in 'Oliver!' Harry drew great acclaim
Such a career Harry had distinguished and prestigious
in later years he presented programmes devotional and religious
Harry he was lovable
famed was his cheeky smile
that infectious laugh
he was a boy and a half
he'd leave you chuckling for a while
The Goon Show was before my time but when old enough and ready
my Dad would play me tapes of them
I loved Harry's Seagoon Neddy
This man was a showbiz giant well loved by everyone
that brilliant tenor voice
that wicked sense of fun
At the beginning of the 80s Harry he was knighted,
an honour he was proud of this Welshman was delighted
In the year 2001
God called him away,
many at his funeral their respects they came to pay
To celebrate his life and remember his successes
mourners at the service included princes and princesses
Sir Harry Secombe CBE fondly remembered to this day
fondly with love
Harry's up above having travelled life's 'Highway'.
Hear the poem HERE
Harry Secombe Knew My Grampa.... by Derek Richard Davies.
Harry Secombe knew my
Grampa,
he lived up the road from me;
I lived in St Thomas
At number 7 Kinley Street you see.
Now Harry was a lovely guy
such a jolly friendly man;
And all the nation loved him
and they loved the way he sang.
We all went down to see him once
at Swansea’s famous Grand;
He made the people laugh out loud
he seemed to have them all in his hands.
The people of Swansea adored this man
and rightly so it’s true;
He was larger than life in so many ways
and he loved the city too.
Such a gentle man, with a massive voice we all loved to hear him sing;
His voice was so majestic
so much pleasure it did bring.
I am proud to say i am from the place where Harry Secombe came;
A real gent, a lovely true Jack
such a legend, what a name.
And now Harry’s up in heaven
he rules the world once more;
He is singing with the angels
looking down on Swansea’s Shore.
Harry Secombe knew my
Grampa,
he lived up the road from me;
I lived in St Thomas
At number 7 Kinley Street you see.
Now Harry was a lovely guy
such a jolly friendly man;
And all the nation loved him
and they loved the way he sang.
We all went down to see him once
at Swansea’s famous Grand;
He made the people laugh out loud
he seemed to have them all in his hands.
The people of Swansea adored this man
and rightly so it’s true;
He was larger than life in so many ways
and he loved the city too.
Such a gentle man, with a massive voice we all loved to hear him sing;
His voice was so majestic
so much pleasure it did bring.
I am proud to say i am from the place where Harry Secombe came;
A real gent, a lovely true Jack
such a legend, what a name.
And now Harry’s up in heaven
he rules the world once more;
He is singing with the angels
looking down on Swansea’s Shore.