Rev. Howard Secomb, a distinguished Methodist minister and former principal of Tonga’s Tupou College, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 102.
Born on July 20, 1922, in Warracknabeal, Victoria, Australia, Rev. Secomb dedicated 14 years to service in Tonga during the 1950s and early 1960s. He served as principal of Tupou College from 1951 to 1963 and held the position of President of the Free Wesleyan Church from 1961 to 1963.
During his tenure at Tupou College, Rev. Secomb oversaw significant developments, including the opening of the first Moulton Chapel by Queen Sālote in 1954 and the celebration of the college’s 90th anniversary in 1956. He also initiated infrastructure projects, such as constructing a coral road from Malapo and replacing thatched dormitories with wooden buildings.
Rev. Secomb’s wife, Janet, born in Tonga, is the eldest daughter of Dr. Alfred Harold Wood who was a principal of Tupou College from 1924 to 1937 when it was located at Nafualu. At 99, Janet will be turning 100 this July. She is the sister of Rev. Dr. D’Arcy Wood, a former Uniting Church President who returned to Tonga in 2015 to officiate the current king’s coronation.
In recognition of his contributions, one of the dormitories at Tupou College bears Rev. Secomb’s name, ensuring his legacy endures among current and future students.
After returning to Australia in 1963, Rev. Secomb continued his ministry in various communities before retiring. He remained active in church affairs, attending every Synod since the Uniting Church’s formation. Reflecting on his long service, he once said, “The faith is still strong.”
Rev. Secomb and former Free Wesleyan Church (FWC) President Rev. George Harris are believed to be amongst the first Palagi (European) FWC missionaries in recent decades to have lived beyond 100 years.
The community extends its heartfelt condolences to Janet and the Secomb family during this time of loss.
