Sisters recreate photo taken on South West beach 40 years ago

Three sisters have recreated a cherished photo that was taken on their favourite Cornish beach four decades ago. Tracey Waywood, 60, Elaine McCartney, 66, and Pamela Cook, 70, originally posed for the snapshot at Castle Beach in Falmouth back in the 1980s.

The trio, who were raised in Penryn, Cornwall, enjoyed many sunny days in their home county before life inevitably led them down different paths. For years, they had wanted to recreate this beloved family photo from their carefree youth.

After the passing of their parents, the photograph ended up with Pam, who persistently encouraged her two Devon-based sisters to recreate the picture for posterity. In a nod to the original, they are even munching on crisps in the new photo, just as they did in the shot taken 40 years ago.

Tracey reminisced: "Castle Beach was always our family beach. We were born and bred in Penryn. Six children, I'm the youngest of the six, and Castle Beach was always a fabulous family day out.

"Mum would make pasties, father who worked in the docks, would come down and join us for a swim. My brother worked across the road at the Royal Duchy Hotel. It would not just be our family it would be other cousins, other family friends so it was a real kind of community get together time."

She fondly recalls that 40 years ago, both her sisters had just become mothers and looked "flippin' amazing".

"The picture was something Pam had wanted to do for many years after the picture came into her possession after mum and dad died," she added.

Elaine McCartney, the only sibling still residing in Penryn, harbours a fervent love for the beach and swimming. The photograph that caught local attention was replicated when her sister Pam visited in September, reports Cornwall Live.

On reaching out to their sister Tracey, they agreed it was time to revitalise the treasured family snapshot. Recounting the joyful experience, Tracey said: "It was such a fun day, we went for a couple of swims and then the young lady from Castle Beach Café, Jess, who took the photograph for us and was telling us, looking at the original photograph, how to put our hands."

She further commented, delighted by the nostalgia, "There's a packet of crisps in one hand and even the brown rug, apart from the bikinis and the bodies it's pretty much how it was."

Tracey reminisces over fond memories tied to the photo as their other siblings have moved abroad, noting changes like the increased sand on the beach and the new wall—features absent during their youth spent among the coves and rocks.

"The rest of the family think we're crazy," she laughed. While their elder sister Sheila has sadly passed away, the two others residing in Canada find their antics mad yet endearing.

Brother Barry, once a tin miner at Wheal Jane for two decades, took his family for a life adventure to Canada in the 70s. Suzanne is also settled in Canada, far from the familiar shores of Cornwall.