RAF honours for footballer, comedian and dancing champion
A WAR hero, stand-up comedian, professional footballer, dance champion and friend of Harry Secombe, who has died aged 96, was given a fitting farewell with RAF honours.
Stanley Severin Thomas, who was born at Mackworth Terrace in St Thomas, Swansea, in 1921, was a childhood friend of Goon Show star Secombe, when they sang in St Thomas Parish Church’s choir.
In his mid-teens, Stan began work as a trainee journalist with the Evening Post, but that career was curtailed with war looming, and he signed up to the RAF.
Based at RAF Manston in Kent, Stan spent many months in France and Belgium. In 1942, he became part of the Western Desert Campaign in Egypt and Libya as a dispatch rider, playing a vital role delivering important messages.
On his Harley Davidson and armed only with a hand pistol, he traversed the desert, riding through war zones, sometimes under enemy fire and sometimes facing severe sandstorms.
Returning to Swansea after the war, keen dancer Stan was employed at Weavers mill on the North Dock, and won the National Jitterbug Championship.
His fancy footwork was not confined to the dance floor.
Inheriting the skills that saw his uncle Harry Thomas play for Manchester United, he played football for Hafod Brotherhood and Cwm Afan, before being scouted to play professionally for Port Vale.
In 1947, he married his dancing partner Beryl and they moved into a property on Eaton Road in Brynhyfryd, which would remain his home for the rest of his life. The couple had three sons.
While working as a rigger at British Steel, he also became a regular stand-up comedian at his local, the Plough & Harrow, and later became a gardener for the local authority.
His funeral was held at Swansea Crematorium and featured RAF flag bearers, an RAF drape for his coffin and The Last Post was played.