The red fez, the deliberately disastrous magic tricks, the booming laugh and the catchphrase “just like that” — Tommy Cooper was one of the best-loved comedians Britain has ever produced. And he had a genuine soft spot for Eastbourne: he married an Eastbourne girl and kept a weekend cottage in the town. Here’s the story of the great comic magician’s Sussex connection.
The fez and the failing magic
Thomas Frederick Cooper was born in Caerphilly, Wales, in 1921, and grew up in Devon and Hampshire. A towering 6 feet 4 inches tall, he honed his act entertaining the troops during his army service, and adopted the trademark red fez that would become his signature. He was, unusually, a genuinely skilled magician — a member of the Magic Circle — who built his comedy around tricks that appeared to go hilariously wrong. By the 1960s and 70s he was a television superstar, and his catchphrase “just like that” entered the national vocabulary.
An Eastbourne love story
Cooper’s link to Eastbourne began during the Second World War. While entertaining service personnel out in Egypt, he met a fellow entertainer named Gwen — Gwendoline Henty — who came from Eastbourne. The two fell in love and married, and Gwen remained his wife and closest companion for the rest of his life. Through her, the seaside town on the Sussex coast became a family place for the Coopers, a world away from the bright lights of the London television studios where he made his name.
Did you know? Tommy Cooper’s meticulous “gag file” — his personal archive of jokes and props, organised with almost archivist-like precision — was later acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum, a fitting tribute to a man whose “chaotic” act was in fact carefully crafted.
The weekend cottage on Motcombe Lane
For years the Coopers kept a weekend cottage at 7 Motcombe Lane, in the older part of Eastbourne near the Old Town — a quiet bolthole where the comedian could escape the demands of showbusiness. Today the town remembers him there with a charming tribute: an iron silhouette of Cooper, complete with his unmistakable fez and magician’s wand, marking his former Eastbourne home. There are also family memorials at Ocklynge Cemetery in the town. It’s fitting that the place he came to relax should keep his memory alive.
Please note: the cottage is a private home. You’re welcome to admire the silhouette from the street, but please respect the privacy of the current residents.
“Just like that”: a comedy legend
Cooper’s death is as famous as his life. On 15 April 1984, aged 63, he collapsed from a heart attack live on stage during a television variety show, in front of millions of viewers — a moment that, for a few seconds, the audience took to be part of his act. It was a shocking end for a much-loved entertainer.
His reputation has only grown since. Fellow comedians have repeatedly voted him among the greatest comic acts of all time, tribute shows tour to this day, and his blend of shambolic charm and genuine skill remains hugely influential. For a comedian who gave so much laughter to the nation, it’s rather lovely that Eastbourne — his wife’s home town and his own weekend retreat — should be part of his story.
Tommy Cooper in Eastbourne: FAQs
What was Tommy Cooper’s connection to Eastbourne?
His wife, Gwen, came from Eastbourne, and the couple kept a weekend cottage at 7 Motcombe Lane in the town. An iron silhouette of Cooper marks the spot, and there are family memorials at Ocklynge Cemetery.
Where is the Tommy Cooper memorial in Eastbourne?
An iron silhouette of Cooper — wearing his famous fez and holding a wand — can be seen at his former weekend home in Motcombe Lane. It’s on a private house, so please view it respectfully from the street.
Was Tommy Cooper from Eastbourne?
No — he was born in Caerphilly, Wales, and raised in Devon and Hampshire. His Eastbourne connection came through his wife, and the weekend cottage they kept in the town.
How did Tommy Cooper die?
He suffered a fatal heart attack live on television on 15 April 1984, aged 63, while performing on a variety show — an unforgettable moment in British broadcasting history.
Discover more famous names with Eastbourne links: the painter Eric Ravilious, composer Claude Debussy, and the town’s wider history and heritage.