Rev. Frederick Thomas Secombe (31 December 1918 – 9 December 2016) was a Welsh Anglican clergyman and author, best known as the older brother of

Harry Secombe Sir Harold Donald Secombe (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, m ...

. Born in Swansea, Secombe was named after his father, and was a graduate of

St David's College, Lampeter University of Wales, Lampeter ( cy, Prifysgol Cymru, Llanbedr Pont Steffan) was a university in Lampeter, Wales. Founded in 1822, and incorporated by royal charter in 1828, it was the oldest degree awarding institution in Wales, with limited ...

. An ordained deacon and priest in

The Church in Wales The Church in Wales ( cy, Yr Eglwys yng Nghymru) is an Anglican church in Wales, composed of six dioceses. The Archbishop of Wales does not have a fixed archiepiscopal see, but serves concurrently as one of the six diocesan bishops. The posi ...

, he served his first assistant curacy in South Wales, later as a vicar. He later moved to St. Mary's Church, Hanwell, as rector, in West London and was appointed

prebendary A prebendary is a member of the Roman Catholic or Anglican clergy, a form of canon with a role in the administration of a cathedral or collegiate church. When attending services, prebendaries sit in particular seats, usually at the back of the ...

St Paul's Cathedral St Paul's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in London and is the seat of the Bishop of London. The cathedral serves as the mother church of the Diocese of London. It is on Ludgate Hill at the highest point of the City of London and is a Grad ...

, London. He was the author of ten humorous books based on his experiences as a vicar in South Wales. Secombe encouraged

Michael Bentine Michael Bentine, (born Michael James Bentin; 26 January 1922General Register Office for England and Wales – Birth Register for the March Quarter of 1922, Watford Registration District, Reference 3a 1478, listed as "Michael J. Bentin", mother ...

to create '' Potty Time'', as therapy after the death of Bentine's son in an aeroplane crash. Secombe died on 9 December 2016 aged 97.

Novels

*''How Green was my Curate'' (1989) *''A Curate for all Seasons'' (1990) *''Goodbye Curate'' (1992) *''Hello Vicar!'' (1994) *''A Comedy of Clerical Errors'' (1995) *''The Crowning Glory'' (1996) *''Pastures New'' (1997) *''The Changing Scenes of Life'' (1998) *''Mr. Rural Dean'' (2000) *''Two Vandals and a Wedding'' (2001)

References

1918 births 2016 deaths People from Swansea 20th-century Welsh Anglican priests Welsh writers {{wales-bio-stub