I, however, was decided to commit as a lot of my day to reminiscence as I might – and it was clear, as a I arrived early on the venue, the Horsebridge Arts Centre, that others have been of a related thoughts; a crowd was already gathering, chatting over tea served up by Noël himself, and rubbing shoulders with friends together with Cushing co-stars Melvyn Hayes and Caroline Munro. I’ve written for Intermission and am a common contributor to the TPTV podcast, so caught up with Sarah and Mel Byron, the Cronins’ chief factotum. Then it was time for the day’s motion to start.
After a temporary introduction, the 150 or so hardened Cushing followers heard from Hayes, Munro, and former Hammer Movies runners Phil Campbell and Brian Reynolds, who regaled us with tales of working with the nice man, however probably the most wonderful tales got here from Geoffrey Hughes, whose father offered their household dwelling to Peter and his spouse Helen within the 1950s. The Hughes clan moved a few doorways away, however remained pals with the couple; Geoffrey and his siblings seem to have been surrogate nephews and nieces to the Cushings, who have been unable to have youngsters of their very own. Peter handled them to items from the native toy store and inspired their hobbies. I as soon as interviewed the actor William Franklyn about his work with Cushing. He informed me his daughters nicknamed him St Peter; if the tales recalled listed here are something to go by, it was reasonably becoming.
Afterwards, we watched The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), the movie that started the actor’s lengthy affiliation with Hammer’s gothic horrors, earlier than a temporary lunch. The enjoyable continued afterwards; like youngsters on a faculty journey, we have been break up into 4 teams, every taking it in flip to sort out numerous actions. For me, it started with a guided tour of some Cushing hotspots with comedy historian Andre Vincent. He admitted he wasn’t an skilled in his topic, however in a manner, which may have been a bonus – he actually needed to have achieved his homework, ‘winging it’ wouldn’t do for the viewers of ardent Cushing followers. However, he did miss out the Tudor Tea Rooms, the actor’s favorite eatery.
What we did see, nevertheless, was Cushing’s View, a spot looking to sea in the direction of the Maunsell forts within the distance. Sadly, a couple have been sitting on the bench donated by the Cushings and steadfastly refused to maneuver, regardless of 30 pairs of glowering eyes boring into their souls. (Vincent had earlier described the native people as resolute and so they have been proof of that.) Cushing’s beachfront home, full with its top-flight artwork studio, was additionally featured, together with locations he would go to, such because the native golf course (to admire the view reasonably than play), in addition to the native Wetherspoons pub – a former cinema now referred to as The Peter Cushing.
It was then time to look at a 1992 interview, carried out by journalist Peter Williams (who was current to debate the present) for his TV collection The Human Issueduring which Cushing discusses his religious aspect in addition to his love for his spouse, who by then had been gone for over 20 years.
A visit to the native museum adopted, the place a plucky band of volunteers proudly showcased their exhibition dedicated to the native hero, together with his bicycle, his artwork gear (Cushing was a expert watercolourist) and a costume from The Masks of Dying (1984), his closing outing as Sherlock Holmes. Then it was again to the Horsebridge for the final occasion: a Cushing quiz. I’m proud to say I received.
After a fast catch-up with Mel, during which we mused on what Cushing would have considered all of the fuss (we determined he would have been touched, embarrassed and stunned), I was again on the prepare to St Pancras, passing among the Charlton followers stepping into the wrong way. They have been jubilant, having received the match and due to this fact promotion to the Championship subsequent season.
They will’t presumably have been as glad as me, nevertheless. I imply, I spent the day ‘with’ my hero, after which topped it off by profitable some cake. Certainly there will be no finer finish to an occasion than that.
Speaking Photos TV’s Peter Cushing Celebration ran from Could 25 – 26 2025.