Sunday, May 03, 2026

Photo Essay: A Weekend in Worthing

A golden horse sprints on a fairground carousel. Her name, Sophie, is printed on her neck. She has colourful swirls on her body and a red saddle

Last month, something quietly monumental happened: I finished the photo project I had been working on for 18 months.

It began, as many things do, with loss. I started it because I wanted to work through the trauma of losing my mum and, most importantly, to reclaim the memories of our last weekend away.

A lone food truck stands on a promenade in front of the sea. The truck is black, says the word pizza on the side, and has two pictures of half pizzas. To the left is a bench, in front of the truck is a person, to the right is an electricity pole

A Victorian arcade in Worthing, England. There is a wrought iron and glass skylight, allowing light to stream into the arcade, which is a long, curving walkway with shopfronts on either side. The floor is black and white tiles in a geometric pattern. The shop fronts are glass and wood painted in whites and pale blues. There is multicoloured bunting hanging across the walkway, giving colour to an otherwise muted scene

A woman's hand with painted red nails holds a tub of cockles in brine. There is a toothpick in the tub to enable the snack to be enjoyed straight away. In the immediate background is the tarred ground of the parade. Further out is a pebbly beach with two people walking on it, the sea, and a grey sky

Photo Fringe photography exhibition along Worthing seafront in Worthing, including Birling Gap, East Dean, 2014 by Alex Curry Delroy and The Volunteer Beekeeper, Bees (and other species), 2022 by Anne Marie Briscombe

A large pebble beach is visible, with a sliver of grey sea, and a moody dark blue sky. There is shrubbery to the left of the photo and a railing from a balcony

The facade of The Cow Shed restaurant in Worthing, UK. There are three French windows, each topped with a cream banner. On the left it says Cocktails, the middle says The Cow Shed, the right says Burgers. In front of the left and right windows are orange outdoor chairs and tables.

A seagull stands on a pebble beach. In the background is a grey sea and pale blue sky. There is a groyne perpendicular to the beach, leading to the sea, these wooden boundaries prevent our beaches from erosion

The Worthing Gin van open for business. In the background is a cream pebble beach, grey sky and steel-blue sea

A pier leads out into the sea. Halfway down is a flag of Ukraine flying in the wind

A pair of bright red high heeled, suede shoes sits on a white wall in front of a Victorian house

An English seaside scene featuring a Big Wheel on the left and the Lido cafe in the right. The sky is bright blue

A wooden pier with several people sitting and walking along it. The scene features a banner reading PIER AMUSEMENTS in the background, lampposts lining the walkway, and a view of the ocean. Seagulls can be seen

A coastal scene featuring a large ferris wheel, with buildings and a lamppost in the foreground. The sun is low in the sky, creating a hazy atmosphere over the beach

A wooden pier extends toward the ocean, featuring various flags, including Italy and Ukraine. People stroll along the pier, with a large sign reading Pier Amusements in the background. Decorative panels display colorful illustrations and artwork

A wooden pier extending over the water, featuring a round building with large windows and a colorful entrance. A flag is visible, alongside a lamp post and people enjoying the space. The sky is clear with minimal clouds

A view framed by two door-like structures on a wooden pier, featuring various posters and images, including a bird in flight and a scenic landscape. The sea is visible in the background under a clear sky

A view of a seaside pier under a clear blue sky. There are colorful flags, including a Catalan and a French flag, flanking the pier's entrance. A person sits on a bench, while a seagull perches nearby

A sunset over a calm sea, viewed from Worthing pier. People stand along the railing, some taking photos. A ferris wheel is visible in the background, along with buildings lining the shore. Street lamps illuminate the scene, creating a tranquil atmosphere

An interior view of a bustling multi-level restaurant. The design features green accents, plants, and large windows allowing natural light. Customers are seated at various tables and a bar, with a spiral staircase leading to an upper level. The atmosphere appears lively and welcoming

Taken from Worthing Pier, a scenic view of a beach at sunset, featuring a lamppost in the foreground, and a ferris wheel along the shoreline. Soft pastel colors fill the sky, and buildings line the beach

A row of white beach huts along a pebble beach, with a cloudy sky overhead and the sea in the background. Some colorful flags are visible near the shoreline

A wooden pier extends into a calm sea under a cloudy sky. The foreground features pebbles and a few rocks, as well as greenery on either side. A bright red lifejacket is situated along the side of the pier

A pebbly beach lined with white beach huts under a cloudy sky. In the background, there are buildings and a distant pier extending into the sea

Bargaining is a natural part of grief, and I spent a long time sitting with the feeling of “if only”. If only things had been different. If only we had known. But over time I came to realise that if I could have had one last weekend with my mum, we would have done exactly what we did.

It was a weekend of love, gratitude, happiness and very good food.

The project was always meant to be fleeting on social media, but I have decided to collect the photos here as a record of the complete project.

You will notice there are no photos of us, my mum, my brother and me. That is entirely intentional. Those moments belong to us, held just outside the frame.

What you will find instead is something else entirely: a reclaimed version of that weekend as it is remembered: softened, luminous, and still very much alive.

🔗 Where do you upload your photo projects to, if not a blog? I'm mainly active on Instagram and the Fediverse (also known as Mastodon) and would love to see you there.

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© 2008 - Mandy Southgate | Emm in London

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