Okay, here's what Denis Meikle had to say about Peel and Brides in "A History of Horrors":

"The public had expected Lee, and the critics would be quick to point out the omission. At the BBFC, a bemused examiner had commented in reference to the secual overtones of the film, 'What next? Dracula, the homosexual vampire?' Ironically, the Sunday tabloids would be just as quick to point out that the sexual preference of his replacement -- David Peel -- was not entirely in keeping with what was being portrayed on the screen (and still illegal in 1960). In this, they were no doubt helped by an unfortunate remark in the press book: 'You know the old saying -- whichever way the twig is bent so the tree will grow,' offered Hammer's new recruit. 'Well, this tree has been thoroughly bent -- bachelor-wise!' Peel retured from acting soon after (he would die in 1982 at the age of 62) and Hinds was to ensure that his next monster would have his libido pointed indisputably in the right direction."

If Meikle has his dates right that would make Peel around 40 when he made Brides (but I've also heard he was even older).