In the 1980s, three sisters took a memorable photo at the beach. Fast forward more than four decades, and they decided to recreate that special moment.

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CNN  — 

Three young women are captured in a moment of joy, laughing together on a beach. The sun shines brightly on this early 1980s day. With their arms around each other, they share a bag of potato chips while lounging on a checkered picnic blanket, having just enjoyed a refreshing swim in the English Channel.

“Looking at the photograph, it really epitomizes who we are as sisters,” Pamela Cook tells CNN Travel today. “Us three. Laughing like that. It’s a photo I held onto for the longest time.”

For years, Cook encouraged her sisters, Tracey Waygood and Elaine McCartney, to replicate a photograph taken on Castle Beach in Cornwall, located in the southwest of England, around 1980.

The three sisters maintain a strong bond and frequently visit Castle Beach, where they enjoy long days filled with laughter, swimming, and conversation.

Waygood and McCartney consistently concurred that Cook was onto something; it seemed like a great idea and within their reach — they were well aware of the exact location of the photo, after all.

They had always intended to do it but never found the time, that is until last summer when the three sisters finally came together with their essentials — bikinis, a beach blanket, and the necessary snacks — to capture the moment once more.

The three women, now in their late 60s and early 70s, decided that despite the cloudy skies, there was no better moment than now to take action.

This sensation was intensified by the news that McCartney had been diagnosed with dementia a few years back.

“Understanding the value of time, we strive to maximize every moment,” states Waygood. “It was crucial for us to follow through on this. It meant a lot to us.”

Return to Castle Shore

Castle Beach is located in the seaside town of Falmouth. The three sisters spent their childhood in this region, enjoying summers at the beach famous for its rock pools, alongside their group of siblings.

Waygood reflects, “We always had a sizable group with us. Our family is quite large, and we often had cousins and friends join in, making for a lively crowd on the beach.”

The family never took a vacation overseas.

“Six brothers and sisters. Our parents were part of the working class. That was how we spent our holidays,” Cook recalls.

However, Cook, Waygood, and McCartney never dreamed of sun-soaked Spanish shores. They never experienced the pang of longing for excursions to France. With the stunning coastal landscapes of Cornwall right at their doorstep and their close-knit, affectionate family by their side, they had everything they needed.

“We never sought anything beyond that,” Cook remarks.

As of today, McCartney resides approximately a 15-minute drive from Castle Beach, whereas Cook and Waygood are located a few hours away. Two of their siblings have settled in Canada, but the family maintains close connections through video calls and social media platforms.

When Cook, McCartney, and Waygood shared their intentions to replicate the beach photo from the 1980s, their family and friends didn’t pay it much mind. The trio is known for engaging in lighthearted and slightly outrageous activities during their reunions. For instance, each Christmas, the sisters film themselves belting out a beloved holiday tune and send the hilarious outcome to their loved ones (Tracey quips, “No wine is involved!”).

When the sisters reached Castle Beach on the day they were recreating the photo, their first order of business was to take a swim in the ocean. Despite the cloudy skies, they were eager to experience a brisk and refreshing dip. The water was chilly, but they found it to be an exhilarating and enjoyable experience.

Once they returned to land, the sisters set to work on recreating the photograph. They quickly noticed that their attempt wouldn’t be perfectly precise, but their spirits remained high and they didn’t let it dampen their enthusiasm.

“I must have missed the email about matching bikinis,” Cook chuckles. “I don’t own a blue one!”

Despite the changes in the coastline throughout the years, the women could effortlessly identify the precise location where their original photograph was captured.

Waygood explains, “The beach cafe that used to exist was swept away by one of the storms, so it has been shifted a bit further along. However, we wanted to sit in the exact same spot since the railings are still present.”

The sisters spread out their checkered beach blanket — a different one from the 1980s, but rather a fresh find that Waygood discovered in her closet.

The next task was to locate a photographer. The sisters had thought this would be a straightforward process, but as they surveyed the beach, it became clear that there were no apparent choices.

“Due to the shifting weather, with rain beginning to fall and a slight chill in the air, there weren't many beachgoers around,” Waygood remembers. “I suggested to Pam, ‘How about we ask someone at the café?’”

Although the beach cafe showcased in the 1980s is no longer in existence, a contemporary cafe now operates on Castle Beach. The Castle Beach Cafe, as it is fittingly called, is a seasonal kiosk that offers quintessential English seaside treats like hot beverages, sausage rolls, and delicious chocolate brownies.

Cook approached the kiosk, but instead of ordering a hot chocolate, she inquired with the woman at the counter if she could assist them in recreating a vintage photograph. She pulled out her phone to show the woman the original snapshot from the 1980s for reference.

The young woman at the counter, college student Jess Loydell, sprang to life, thrilled at the opportunity to assist with this photographic adventure.

Loydell examined the original photograph with great attention, then instructed the women to position themselves accordingly, ensuring that McCartney’s arms were intertwined with her sisters' in the same manner and that the packet was held just right.

However, when it was time to showcase their smiles, the sisters required little guidance — they effortlessly conveyed the happiness of the original photograph.

According to Cook, the objective has consistently been to "create an enjoyable experience."

"I can't recall what had us laughing in the original photo, but we were still in stitches when the final shot was captured," she remarks.

Cook, Waygood, and McCartney were overjoyed with the final photograph. They expressed their gratitude to Loydell, who then made her way back to the Castle Beach Cafe. The sisters lingered a little longer on the sandy shore, reflecting on cherished moments from the past while creating new ones together.

Favorable response

Upon returning to their homes, the sisters posted the photograph on Facebook, bringing joy to their friends and family.

“Our family really enjoys it. We’re incredibly proud to share it,” Waygood remarks. “Our nephews and nieces in Canada have been posting about it, saying, ‘These are our wild aunties from England!’”

The team at Castle Beach Cafe contacted the sisters to see if they could share the photo on their social media accounts. The sisters gladly consented. Before long, the recreated image caught the attention of not only their family and friends but also went viral online, garnering coverage from local news stations.

The sisters received an overwhelming amount of positive responses, with numerous individuals expressing that they felt inspired to replicate a cherished photo. Many others tagged their own sisters, adding heart emojis to their posts.

“The feedback has truly motivated us,” remarks Cook.

Despite the presence of some inevitable skeptics amidst the positivity, Cook, Waygood, and McCartney chose to dismiss any negativity with ease.

"That's simply social media," Cook remarks. "We feel completely at ease with ourselves. We never stressed about hitting the beach in our bikinis at our age."

Honoring the bond of sisterhood

Waygood, Cook, and McCartney didn't capture the photograph seeking fame or anticipating that it would go viral on social media, garnering likes from people around the globe. "I didn't even bother to fix my hair," Waygood chuckles.

The three of them express that they did it for their own sake, to honor their bond as sisters, the strength of their connection, and the happiness that comes from spending a day together by the sea.

Waygood and Cook express that it's challenging to identify the precise factors that contribute to their remarkably close sisterly bond.

As Cook describes it, having a relationship characterized by "plenty of fun and many laughs" feels "incredibly natural."

Waygood states, “You only realize the depth of your bond when someone else remarks, ‘You’re fortunate to have such closeness and to have one another.’”

In recent years, McCartney's struggles with dementia have led the sisters to see their connection in a fresh perspective. While their relationship remains filled with laughter and happiness, they have become increasingly conscious of the fleeting nature of life.

This is one of the reasons they cherish the two photos so much. They serve as a reminder of joy, ensuring that the happiness lingers regardless of what the future may hold.

"We simply aimed to seize that moment," Cook explains.

“Seize that moment. For our sake,” Waygood remarks. “And we accomplished it, and it’s truly amazing. We have each other. We have the three of us together on the beach, grinning.”

If other people find joy in viewing the two images or feel inspired by them, that’s simply an unexpected and delightful bonus for the sisters.

Waygood suggests that those looking to replicate a cherished photograph should remember: "Don’t strive for perfection; simply get out there and make it happen."

"She remarks, 'Tomorrow may not come.'"

Regarding Cook, she currently has the two photographs displayed in her home, and they never fail to bring a smile to her face.

Cook reflects, “What I appreciated about the two photographs was that, while they weren’t entirely precise or flawless, they truly conveyed what I aimed to express — the essence of the three of us just being ourselves.”