Shoreham bids farewell to celebrated photographer Marilyn Stafford

The family and friends of Marilyn Stafford gathered for a procession along Shoreham High Street on January 11 to say their goodbyes to the 97-year-old, who died peacefully at her home in the town on January 2.

The US-born award-winning photojournalist’s retrospective exhibitions were held in Brighton Museum and on the Isle of Wight last year.

People gathered in Shoreham to say goodbye (Image: Wayne Pilling)

Marilyn's career spanned several decades since photographing Albert Einstein in 1948.

Subjects included British model Twiggy, model and actress Joanna Lumley and actor Lee Marvin.

Her work also took her across the world, where she reported on important social issues of the day including civil war victims when she worked with politician Indira Gandhi in India.

Marilyn was a long time resident of Shoreham (Image: Wayne Pilling)

She was an advocate for women in photography after being one of very few female editorial photographers in the mid-1900s. She regularly worked for publications such as Vogue and The Observer.

She set up the Marilyn Stafford FotoReportage Award for women photographers in 2017.

Marilyn's portrait of Albert Einstein (Image: Marilyn Stafford)

The long time Shoreham resident was taken through the town in a colourful coffin decorated with flowers, with a musical accompaniment from band the Agitators.

She was described as an “active member” in the community and was involved in Shoreham Wordfest and also organised the Adur poetry trail.

Mourners met outside Sold charity shop in High Street, which had a display of some of Marilyn’s work.

The procession continued to the town’s war memorial in East Street for music, dancing and tributes, before her funeral in Brighton.

Marilyn Stafford (Image: The Marilyn Stafford family)

Marilyn’s daughter Lina Clerke described the procession.

"A wooden funeral bier was pulled through the streets by her loved ones, musicians came together to play New Orleans Blues and other songs,” said Ms Clerke.

“Stories were shared, and people danced in the sunshine.

“Passersby were amazed to see such a different sort of funeral, and people celebrating." 

Following Marilyn’s death, Royal Pavilion and Museums Trust chief executive Hedley Swain said he was "incredibly sad" at the loss of such "a great photographer and truly inspiring person"

He said: “It was such a pleasure to meet Marilyn last year.

“She was still extremely sharp and it was fascinating to hear her memories and stories about her iconic photographs.”