Worthing Pier goes back in time for Pier Day

The one-day festival was held on Sunday at Worthing Pier and hosted artists, bands, dance acts and vintage stalls.

It attracted visitors from Brighton, London and Kent, as well as dozens of people who dressed up in outfits, based on designs from the 1930s and 1950s, to mark the festival’s vintage theme.

As well as fancy-dress, there was live jive dancing, war-time recipe tasting, knitting classes and free bicycle tune-ups.

Traditional Punch and Judy shows were performed and children were shown how to make herb gardens in recycled cans.

Event organiser Dan Thompson said: “It was the busiest one yet.

“One man left a comment saying ‘I’m 63 years old and have lived in Worthing all my life and this is the best experience I have ever had on Worthing Pier’.

“A lot of work goes into organising something like this and a comment like that makes it all worthwhile.”

The festival, which was free, also extended to those arriving by train, with a screening of Brief Encounter, released in 1945, being shown in the waiting room of Worthing railway station on the day.

Dan added: “A lot of traders sold well on the day.

“It was a great event for the local economy.”

Pictures by Stephen Goodger