Peter White a VERY good friend of Ron Stormes

Peter, sadly passed away 4th Dec 2011

Born 9th May 1933, Peter is a perfect gentleman, self proclaimed eccentric, dry wit and terrific mimic, who brought the grace of a previous age to the transgender scene.

Peter's empathy, experience and love for the TG scene developed over a lifetime of platonic relationships with TG friends from all corners of the world.

Originally from Cornwall, Peter was expected at a young age to be a vet, train driver, or actor. It was the last of these paths that brought him at the age of 16 to a London audition theatre where he was first to meet a very young Ron Storme.

Ron was with close friend Paul La Dare. Both were female impersonators and show girl dancers. The young Peter was fascinated by these two beautiful 'girls' and life long friendships were cemented, as they waited for their respective auditions. Peter was up for cabin boy in the film Treasure Island, (he didn't get the part).

In the early 50s Ron found the UK was not ready for openly gay, openly effeminate, (now understood to be transgendered) performers. Others like Danny La Rue found fame in music hall and review, as entertainers working within the confines of the straight entertainment industry. Ron however had to leave the UK to find fame and a good living in Europe and elsewhere around the world where colleagues like Coccinele from France were revered as celebrities, not hounded as "poofs".

Peter went on to enjoy a fulfilling, exciting and varied life including time in the air force both in the UK and the USA. His great love of boats led him to build a boat business in France. He is a Master shipwright, engineer and skipper.

Throughout the years that passed Peter and Ron maintained a close relationship by letter, and when Ron settled in Putney with his dear partner George, Peter would visit, staying with a relation nearby in Richmond. Ron would particularly enjoy trips to restaurants in Peters Jaguar car. Though Peter says Ron never travelled out as far as the M25.

Ron's infamous house parties in Putney led on to the Porchester Hall Balls in Queensway, and later monthly nights at Tudor Lodge in Bow. When ever Peter's UK visits coincided with these events he would be there in the background. In 1986 as Ron helped judge 'Night of a 1000 Frocks', Peter was there at the edge of the stage. Many thought of Ron and Peter as sister and brother. Ron would refer to Peter as "My Peter". Many thought that Peter was therefore Peter Storme.

Their lives intertwined until Peter retired and settled in Sandy in Bedfordshire. Ron had lost his beloved George and was running bi-weekly nights at Stepney's. Peter would join Ron midweek to work on PR and drive him to the club helping in the background.

At this time Stepney's owners pressured Ron to take the club weekly. Rather than lose the venue, Ron reluctantly agreed and turned to Peter to take a more active role. Ron was already ill though few knew. Some of the clubs busiest nights followed as the TG scene responded to the weekly opportunity.

Ron's death hit Peter hard, and to see Stepney's owners dismiss everybody that had worked with Ron, was a double blow. Ron had asked Peter to keep the club going for the loyal clientele, but the means was not in his hands to do so.

He watched the roller coaster ride as Stepney's brought in various hosts and was dismayed to see it come to an end.

Peter's support was instrumental in securing the club for the TG community for those last few years from when Ron was asked to go weekly - and now it was shut.

Peter approached Vicky Lee and together they worked on these web pages that Vicky pledged would endure as long as she could.

Peter's every waking thought after Ron's death was to ensure that the struggle of the early transgender pioneers is never forgotten.

On that last night at Ron Storme's at Stepney Peter took tributes in a small green book. Why not see some of the tributes friends and admirers of Ron Storme have left in the Ron Storme Tribute Book.

Your Tributes to Ron collected by Peter White.
**These are tributes and pictures sent to Peter and Vicky Lee

Now it is time to collect tributes to Peter and I am honoured to do so
Peter was such a gent and despite his physical traumas always cracked
his jokes and kept me laughing - I will miss such a rare man and I promise
to keep Ron Storme's name alive as he always did R.I.P Peter
**Vicky Lee

Michelle Edwards
It is my sad duty to inform you that Peter (Ron Storme) White
passed away this morning (Sunday 4th December) just after three o'clock.
I was by his side holding his hand.
Peter will be remembered for his larger than life persona and for his unbridled desire to keep alive the memory or Ron Storme.
Although over the past two years he has been very ill after an operation
he remained the same wonderful man with a big heart.
It has been a great pleasure to have known and loved him.
Rest in Peace Peter

Jean Winchester
Peter will be greatly missed. Rest In Peace, my old friend.XXXXX

Jamie Mckenna OMG!
Peter was such a lovely kind hearted man, he will be missed RIP X

Angelica Sotto Smith
rest in peace Peter... we will miss you xxx

Pearl E Monsoon
Peter you will be missed by many my darlin,but we will all meet up again one day on the other side.a much loved friend R.I.P. sis x

Glen Harris
R.I.P x

Your Tributes to Ron Storme and collected by Peter White.
**These are tributes and pictures sent to Peter and Vicky Lee

Ron Storme By Richard Smith
**News Article Saturday December 2nd, 2000 The Guardian

A tribute to Ron Storme by Vicky Lee.
**First written in November 2000 with help and pictures from Peter White
**First published in the 9th edition of The Tranny Guide

Ron Storme By Georgina
** A fabulous collection of lost pictures from Georgina
discovered after printing old negativs show Ron and the parties at Bow circa 1990s

Peter White By Vicky Lee
** The ultimate male admirers story with your tributes

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