Love Beyond the Grave: Peter Cushing
August 11th, 2019 marks 25 years since Peter Cushing died in Whitstable. Fondly remembered by the town, one question is still asked about the man. Where is he buried?
The location of Mrs Cushings grave and for that matter, the grave of Peter Cushing has been a mystery since his death in 1994. With twists, turns and secrecy, this present day tale wouldn’t be out of place from that of Cushing’s acting world.
The couple were very close, and he often spoke of his admiration for the support he received from his wife. From meeting in 1942 to Mrs Cushing’s death on January 14th, 1971 they were described by many as “ inseparable “ and had, an almost spiritual relationship. She was his companion while on film location or in the studio, helping with his lines and providing him with much needed encouragement and confidence. They were rarely apart and throughly enjoyed each others company.
Helen Cushing was buried locally to their home in Whitstable, and he always expressed a wish to be buried alongside her. I doubt they have been separated after death, as a couple they were so close, during their life together. This is not only logical but it doesn’t take much time reading about Peter Cushing to understand his total love, affection and deep gratitude to his wife. Frankly the thought of them buried apart, doesn’t make sense.
However as Peter Cushing might have said while starring as Sherlock Holmes, I will present my evidence and let the you decide!
Born as Violet Helene Beck in St Peterburg, Russia on February 8th 1905. Her parents were Ernest Beck, who was born in St Peterburg in 1875 and Helene Alexandra Fatimia Enckell born in 1879 from Hamina in Finland.
Miss Beck enjoyed a priviledged lifestyle, provided by her father ownership of the Maxwell Mills in St Petersburg. His father Jack Beck originally from Ashton, near Preston in Lancashire had moved with his family to Russia to establish the James Beck Spinnery Company. Many families relocated from Lancashire to manage mills, train new workers and helping to pioneer the Russian textile industry. With imported British machinery and experience, this venture was highly successful and profitable for the Beck family.
Helene, who disliked her first name of Violet, had two brothers, Reginald Ernest Enckell Beck, 1902-1992 and Godfrey Charles Beck, 1903-1972. Also two sisters, Marjorie Elizabeth Beck, 1908-1985 and Doris Rosalind Beck, 1910-1980.
Life was good in Russia for the British, but the local work force became to dislike the working conditions and long hours. The Ministry of the Interior formed a legal trade union for mill works to help quell their discontent. Trying to present a petition in January 1905, over 200 workers were killed during a protest demonstration by Cossacks. Although this revolution was brutially put down and failed, the working atmosphere within the country changed. The Beck family, for example, watched with concern, as the red army practiced manoeuvres in the woods, behind their house.
From the time of the failed revoltution in 1905, the Beck family continued to have problems with some of their workers. It was clear to all, that Russia was no longer a safe place to live and that major changes was coming. Leaving most of their wealth behind, the family, in small groups hastily departed around 1911.
Returning to England, Helen Beck found work as a tutor, and later became a chorus girl which led to work in the theatre as an actress. She married Kenton Redgrave Kreitmayer in 1929 in Kensington. She lost a child in the final stages of pregnancy, which also removed the chance of further children. Kenton who dropped his surname of Kreitmayer by deed poll to use his middle name of Redgrave. He had previously been married to Vera Elizabeth Kathleen Hemingway, the daughter of John Hemingway. This marriage ended in scandal when she was divorced after admitting adultry to two men.
Peter Cushing lived in Brentwood, Los Angeles while looking for film work, but returned to England on the White Star ship, Tilapa from Halifax, Canada to Liverpool, on March 27th 1942. He gave the address of Cherry Tree Cottage, Horley Surrey as his permanent address in England. He needed to find work quickly and was accepted into the Entertainments National Service Association, in April 1942
Known professionally as Helen Beck, she first met Peter Wilton Cushing as a replacement actress for the Noel Cowards play, Private Lives. Sonia Dresdel 1909-1976 had to leave the tour because of the constant performing and travelling. Something that both Helen and Peter Cushing was suffer from,later. Miss Dresdel went on to become a leading actress in the West End, in films and later on television. She retired to Ransley Cottage, a grade 2 listed property in Kingsford Street, Mersham near Ashford, where she died on January 18th, 1976. Helen Beck took over, the leading role of Amanda Prynne. Cushing had secured the male lead role of Elyot Chase, and they played a recently divorced couple. They found themselves thrown together in this comedy of Noel Coward manners when they both realise that their divorce may have been a mistake.
Meeting to catch a bus at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane,London for their first performance in Colchester they met at the stage door. Helen later said she thought they had met or she known “this man “ before. Quoted in later life she said,” I knew I would love him for the rest of my days and beyond.”
From May 1942 the company toured for ENSA, entertaining troops throughout the United Kingdom. This tour included the towns of Colchester, Wolverhampton, Oxford, Taunton, Oswestry, Canterbury and Dover. The tours were hard work, with all experiencing long hours. While lodging in Bridge during the Canterbury performances, Helen became ill and had to miss some of the booked shows. Soon after Peter fell ill and they both left the touring group.
They became inseparable after the theatrical tour, and Helen quickly became the centre of Peter’s life. With only her parents present as witnesses, the couple married on the 10th April 1943 at Kensington Register Office in London. According to the wedding certificate Violet Helene Redgrave was 37 years, the divorced wife of Kenton Redgrave and Peter Cushing, 29 years, was a batchelor. Both gave their address as, 18 Bullingham Mansions, Church Street, in Kensington.
Helen gave up her career, to help Peter and continued to coach and suggest new area’s of work for Peter throughout her life. This included Shakespeare, and when times were hard, working for BBC Television. Peter starred in Pride and Prejudice as Mr Darcy, as Winston Smith in George Orwell’s play 1984 and as the series, Sherlock Holmes in 1968. He appeared with Morecambe and Wise, between 1969 and 1980 in a long running comedy sketch, where he was trying to locate his missing £5 fee from appearing on the first show.
In 1969 they moved from old converted stables, a small two bedroom property at 9 Hillsleigh Road, Holland Park, London to Whitstable. Friends had mentioned a white boarded cottage right on West Beach, a short distance from the town. The move was mostly for Helen’s health, as it was hoped the move away from London to Seaway Cottages would help with its fresh sea air. This proved not to be the case and despite nursing by Peter, Helen Cushing died at their Whitstable home of emphysema in 1971. Helen had only been in Whitstable less than 2 years.
On her death, Helen Cushing left Peter a note.
< Do not pine for me, my beloved Peter because that will cause unrest, do not be hasty to leave this world, because you will not go until you have lived the life you have been given and remember, we will meet again, when the time is right, that is my promise.>
The personal letter, provided by Peter Cushing was quoted for the first time in 1990, by Canterbury film maker Peter Williams, MBE in his television series: The Human Factor, ‘For The Love of Helen.’
Helen died on the Thursday at 9.02 am 14th January 1971, and after a service was held at Barham Crematorium near Canterbury her ashes were later interred in Seasalter.
Peter revealed in a later autobiography, that he ran out. on to the wet, windy beach in front of their cottage immediately after her death. He then returned and ran up and down the stairs, as if trying to induce a heart attack with the greive. Peter Cushing would continue to morn for his wife, for the rest of his life.
Peter Cushing mentioned, several times after her death, noteably in a 1972, Radio Times interview, said that he wished to join her.
During the interview he insisted with the writer, that he should include his comments, adding:
“To join Helen is my only ambition. You have my permission to publish that, really, you know dear boy, it is all just killing me. Please say that.”
In 1985 Peter Cushing wrote a personal note to the television programme, Jim’ll Fix It. Jimmy Saville returned an earlier favour and granted his wish to have a rose created in his wife’s name. Christopher Wheatcroft cultivated the rose as a one off commission, a mix of the verttities, Silver Jubilee and Deep Secret, produced in pink. Peter appeared on the show sitting next to Jimmy Saville and got his wish, a new rose called, The Helen Cushing.
The Cushing’s used to have a huge garden in Whitstable, stretching behind most of Seaway Cottages, down to the road, Island Wall. The landscaped garden with a white shed, contained plants and roses and a local man assisted with the maintainance. The garden has long gone, sold off and cleared to provide for another house on the corner and larger cottage gardens. The special pink rose must still exsist, perhaps with Mrs Broughton?
A seat from his garden was later presented to the towns people of Whitstable in 1992 and is located at what is now known as, ‘Cushings View’. Situated in front of Keam’s Yard, car park and looking out to sea. It was a spot Peter Cushing loved, and he used to walk or ride his bicycle along the seawall from his cottage, a short distance away.
Details on the bench are : < Presented by Helen and Peter Cushing, who love Whitstable and it’s people, so very much.>
His wife was included on the inscription even though she had died 21 years earlier , Peter always used her name when sending Christmas cards and personal letters, and signed off as, ‘Helen and Peter’.
Steve Coneys was the vicar at the time at St Alphege Church, Seasalter and remembers Mrs Cushings death. She was placed by the north wall of the church, where other ashes have been interred. Asked about the rumour that her remains had been moved on Peter’s wishes, Reverend Coneys said:
“ For that to happen an exhumation order should have been obtained. I should have been aware of that. I do not recall that being the case.”
A headstone placed soon after her death, with a poem from her husband was removed after Peter Cushing’s death. Today the grave is difficult to find and the remaining inscription is not readable. Peter Cushing always stated he wished to buried with his wife and after his cremation at Barham, many including the The Independant newspaper reported that “ Seasalter Church was his last resting place “, in his obitary. While visiting his wife, sometimes on his bicyle, Peter always sat on the green wire bench a little distance from the grave. One day he was concerned that an unknown visitor had placed flowers on her grave and this deeply troubled him. He also knew that local church officials had often removed notes and requests for his autograph from her grave.
It seems, at this point in his life he may have changed his own funeral plans, or at least some of the arrangements. It was clear, he didn’t want to create a shrine in the churchyard and certainly didn’t like the fuss surrounding film star, whether dead or alive. Seasalter residents recall seeing him, visiting, sometimes on a daily basis. He would be reconised of course, but during his visits, he would talk to others, rarely. One churchyard visitor said, he spoke one day to me, about the weather. I was lucky, as he often seemed very deep in private thought. He would always tip his hat, to the ladies, he was a wonderful gentleman.
Peter Cushing lived with the Broughton family in Hartley near Longfield, Kent on and off towards the end of his life. He spent less time at Seaway Cottages, where his house keeper, Maisie Olive had taken up residence, to be on call when needed. Mrs Joy and husband Bernard Broughton would take it,in turns to care and sit with him. One spending the night, the other sitting during the day. It was Peter himself who decided to enter the Pilgrims Hospice on London Road,Canterbury where he died on August 11th, 1994.
On Friday August 19th 1994, Whitstable town came to a standstill, many shops closed as a mark of respect. Led by Terry Davis of John Kemp Funeral Directors, using one of Peter Cushing’s own walking canes, led the funeral cortege. First to Cushing’s View, and then, to the Tudor Tea Rooms in Harbour Street - a favourite spot for Peter’s afternoon tea and cakes. The procession travelled along the High Street with many residents following behind while in the town, and then on to Barham Crematorium for a final private ceremony.
Terry Davis, who now has his own funeral business in Cornwallis Avenue in Aylesham, remembers the day with pride. From his company web site he notes: “ I will always remember 1994. I had the privilege to conduct Peter Cushing's funeral in Whitstable. The High Street was crowded by the general public wanting to pay their respects, this was a fitting farewell to a first class actor of his era.”
On January 12th 1995, a memoral service was held in St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden attended by friends, family and fellow film stars. Christopher Lee and Ron Moody read the lessons.
The normally sedate Whitstable and Herne Bay Times newspaper, published a front page story on Thursday, 15th June 1995. Under the headline ‘ Cushing Grave Mystery’, it repeated concerns of some local residents in the town about the location of his grave. In reply to the story, his secretary from 1959, Mrs Joyce Broughton of Hartley and Faversham said: “Mr Cushing asked us to place him somewhere private.”
“ He was a very private man and did not like all the fuss and attention he was given.”
“ He is now in a private place. It was what he wanted and I have simply carried out his wishes.”
The story was followed up by the News of the World and the Sunday Times newspapers, which only added to the mystery and was also widely condemmed for it’s speculation, by Cushing friends and fans.
After his death, Mrs Margaret Broughton and her husband, Bernard Broughton were left the entire Peter Cushing Estate. A company Peter Cushing Productions Limited had been formed earlier with Mr Broughton as a Director and Company Secretary and Mrs Broughton as a director. As well as helping displays and background details on the life of Peter Cushing, the trust gave permission for The Star Wars franchise. They wanted to use, an image of Peter Cushing in the film,20 years after his death. A computer generated image was digitally created for the Star Wars, Rogue One film, after Cushing had previously appeared in the 1977 film, Star Wars, New Hope. Many were not sure about the CGI-resurrection, but the company said Peter Cushing had been proud of his Star Wars connections, and the work had been done with a great deal of affection. “ We would never have proceeded without the backing and approval of Cushing trust officials”, added an official press statement.
Helen and Peter Cushing are still a part of Whitstable and are remembered with a great deal of affection. The town allowed the couple and later Peter in his grief, to live a near normal life, by just leaving them alone. For this, the couple both recorded their thanks, many times. It came as a shock to many, that that towns folk couldn’t pay their respects to the actor and his loving wife, not knowing the location of their final resting place.
The anicent church of St Alphege, known affectionaly as “the Old Church’ in Faversham Road, Seasalter must hold the mystery of where Peter Cushing is buried. The church has known many mysteries from origin in 1023 to the present day, but much like Mrs Joyce Broughton, isn’t revealing anything.
