Peter with his bike in his garden. Photo Colin Bourner.
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Older residents of Whitstable will remember Peter Cushing as a valued member of our community. He lived here till his death in 1994. You would often see him about town, on his bike, in his favourite restaurant, the Tudor Tea Rooms, or walking along the sea front from his home at 3, Seaway Cottages behind Island Wall.
Peter had purchased the property in 1959 after visiting Whitstable with his wife, Helen, for a holiday. Helen had a delicate constitution, and the good, clean sea air helped maintain her health. They lived here together till Helen’s death in 1971, after which Peter built a shrine to her memory in the cottage they shared.
Peter loved Whitstable. He called it “the Village” as a tribute to the closeness he felt to its inhabitants. And Whitstable people loved Peter too, and were protective of his privacy. Many was the time when fans would come looking for him. They would ask directions to his house, only to face a disarming reticence on the part of residents, who would feign ignorance rather than give the game away.
Peter was famous throughout the world due to his various roles in the cinema. He played Dr Who, Sherlock Holmes and the Grand Moff Tarkin in Star Wars, amongst many others. He was a regular star in the Hammer Horror movies, alongside his friend and fellow actor, Christopher Lee. Lee often played Dracula, the undead creature of the night, while Peter played his nemesis, Van Helsing, the haunted, driven vampire hunter.
In real life, Peter was a proper old-fashioned English gentleman, unfailingly polite and charming. He would always bow and kiss a woman’s hand when greeting her. Despite his fame, he was completely at home in his adopted town, friendly and courteous to all his neighbours. Whitstable remembers him with affection.
There is a major exhibition at Whitstable Museum of Peter Cushing’s life and times which is now open. The museum has been helped by the Peter Cushing Association in collecting stories about him and Helen. The exhibition includes photographs and artefacts from his life, plus watercolours he painted himself. You can also see his famous bicycle, which we would often see him on in his jaunts around town.
There is also a leaflet available about Peter Cushing’s relationship to Whitstable, with a detailed walking tour so that you can visit all the places he was associated with.
When the Museum is open
All year on Thursday to Saturday from 10.30am to 4.30pm
School holidays Wednesday to Saturday 10.30am to 4.30pm
Bank Holidays 10.30am to 4.30pm.
Restricted opening at Christmas and New Year please check on Facebook – WhitstableMuseumCommunityGroup.
Other days by arrangement for private groups and schools.
About CJ Stone
CJ Stone is an author, columnist and feature writer. He has written seven books, and columns and articles for many newspapers and magazines.
Read more of CJ Stone’s work here, here and here.
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