SIR HARRY Secombe and a television crew from HTV were in Malmesbury in 1991 to film a programme for the Sunday evening Highway series to be broadcast the following January.

Sir Harry spent three days in the town, singing occasionally and interviewing local people.

The former Goon Show star and his wife Myra were based during their stay at the Whatley Manor hotel just outside Malmesbury, while the crew stayed at the Old Bell Hotel, Abbey Row.

First to be interviewed was Bishop of Malmesbury, the Rt Rev Peter Firth, who talked about the history of Malmesbury Abbey and the problems facing the present day church.

Sir Harry then renewed an old friendship with actor James Grout, who lived in Malmesbury and was appearing on television as the judge in Rumpole of the Bailey.

Mr Grout, who worked with Sir Harry during a Royal Command Performance on the same bill as The Beatles some years ago was filmed reading the ballad Christmas Day in the Workhouse at the Tower house, one of three former workhouses in Malmesbury.

Malmesbury born lacemaker Rosie Exton talked to Sir Harry at the Athelstan Museum where she found the design for the lace jabot she made for the mayors of Malmesbury.

Burton Hill House school also featured in the programme, during which Sir Harry talked to headmaster Phillip Drake.

The final Malmesbury contribution came from Ken Silveston, chairman of the Malmesbury & District Housing Association which was planning to build 20 homes at Parklands.