Seymour was introduced in the New Years Day special in 1986. His introduction in the regular series happened a year later in January 1987.
To differentiate him from Foggy, Seymour had the wacky inventor persona as well as the retired headmaster of a boys school.
I think Seymour was meant to be a crackpot out of his time. At least his sister Edie loves him, no one else does.
We now have moved to a format where Howard constantly bothers Clegg for a favour which usually involves contacting or passing a gift to Marina. In this episode, stockings.
The pièce de résistance is Seymour's invention. A bicycle powered drilling machine. At least Roy Clarke knew that the audience would find a bike contraption funny.
Seymour drills for oil and Ronnie Hazlehurst adds the Dallas theme.
This is a changed Last of the Summer Wine and a new era.
Looking back at it again, I can see the golden age was definitely over when Foggy left.