Despite Cushing’s fame, Keeler said he was so well respected and loved by locals that they “treated him like a normal resident”.
Keeler said visitors at the museum often shared their recollections of their interactions with the actor.
“He used to go cycling around the villages, he loved going to the tearooms and he used to draw pictures of the customers.
“He also loved bird watching,” he said. “And he adored the sea view.”
Keeler described Cushing as a “perfect gentleman”.
“Anytime someone did something for him, he would write them a thank you letter. He would always include ‘may God’s blessing go with you’,” Keeler said.
Cushing died in 1994 and Keeler said he would always be missed by the town.
“Most people remembered him cycling to Seasalter to visit Helen’s grave and there were always tears in his eyes,” he said.
“He used to say ‘I was born in 1913, I started living in 1943 when I met Helen and I died in 1971 when she did’.”