Rugby career ruined

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33158, 23 February 1973, Page 1

Rugby career ruined

Harry .Secombe, a power- I fully built Welsh- I nian. arrived in I Christchurch yesterday lamenting a I little that his .short- I sightedness had ’ wrecked a brilliant Rugby career. “I am so short-sighted I have to wear Braille socks,” he said. “I played at full-back but , every time someone passed the ball to me, I missed it. “Then, when I got the ball, I started running the wrong way. And you know, they don’t like it ■ in Wales if you put the ball down on your own goal line. ‘ ? “Now I play cricket. They use my shirt for a sight j screen. Colin Cowdrey, Godfrey Evans and a few! others of us play the local side at Sutton.” The irrepressible Harry Se- 5 come, shorter than Fergie McCormick but about double in width, gave that as an outline of his: sporting career. What of the All Blacks and Wales? •‘We still love them,” he said. “Both sides play it hard.”: Mr Secombe, now aged 51, counted his blessings. . “I get paid very well for do-| ing what I like. I don’t: mind paying heavy taxes. | It’s a happy existence. If' you are part of the com-’ munity you have to pay.” Financially, he became very successful when he began to exploit his ability ’ as a singer of serious, - songs. He enjoyed that as ! much as his comedy •> singing. *‘l do about 50 minutes non- ] stop in the second half ( of my show. At the pace I work I cannot go for | two hours.” His Wellington audience on t Wednesday night was i very satisfied. “It wasii one of the best recep- ’ tions I ever had.” he said. < Examining his expanding i waistline he admitted he!l

could put up with it so long as he could see his feet. “I was in Italy during the war. I fell in love with pasta.” Was he a prisoner of war?— “No, I was a prisoner of the army.”

“I used to smoke but the doctor told me if I [ wanted to be a singer I would have to give up smoking. I don’t cough so much now.” At his press conference he played every question with a straight bat interspersed with frequent; bursts of his characteristic laugh that will forever link him audibly with the Goons. Who was the key man behind the Goons? — Nobody. Everyone played so important a part that with-' out any one person the series would have folded. It lasted 10 years and is still a constant source of hilarity among the cast whenever they meet.