Tom Wye, Worthing mayor at the time, arrived to kick-start the celebrations and performed the official opening ceremony at 11am on Sunday, September 17, 2006. The fun-packed day included Worthing Edwardians strolling along the prom in full colourful costume, pier tours given by local historian Chris Hare, and the Pavilion Theatre holding its popular indoor market.
The RNLI lifeboats from Shoreham and Littlehampton gave a demonstration in the sea and 500 postcards were posted by residents in a special pier post box. Anthony Wills from the National Piers Society, which made the award, said: “The award is a tribute to the pier’s survival and it is now one of only five with a thriving theatre.”
Also in the news:
![Worthing Pier flies the flag after winning Pier of the Year for the first time](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjYxY2UxMmE2LWQ3NzgtNGNjMS04NWVmLWQyMTk3ZWQ3YTZhODo0NDZkNGEzMy1jOTkwLTQyMWItYWY4YS1kNzc4MjI0N2NlZDU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
1. Worthing Pier Day 2006
Worthing Pier flies the flag after winning Pier of the Year for the first time Photo: Mick Canning
![Tom Wye, who was Worthing mayor in 2006, officially opens Worthing Pier Day](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmY1YTYzMWUyLWIwZTQtNDMyZi05YjNkLWIyMDYxZDQ4NjFjMzplZjJkYjg4MS02MDE1LTRiNDYtODI3NC1hMWI0OGYxNmUxZTM=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
2. Worthing Pier Day 2006
Tom Wye, who was Worthing mayor in 2006, officially opens Worthing Pier Day Photo: Mick Canning
![Worthing Edwardians take a stroll along Worthing Pier, which opened on April 12, 1862](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjkxM2Q2N2E4LWJmYzYtNDc1MC05OTQ1LTg0OTAyMjU4NDc4MTpjYzFiNzZmYi02ZWI2LTRkMzctODVlZi1hMGY1YTI5NWYzYzk=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
3. Worthing Pier Day 2006
Worthing Edwardians take a stroll along Worthing Pier, which opened on April 12, 1862 Photo: Mick Canning
![Punch and Judy man Joe Burns ready for a show](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjk3OTYzYTNiLTIxN2QtNDVkYS1hNjU1LWUwZDhkYWFiNDY1ZDoxM2YzNjFjMS0yYjI2LTRkZTAtODAwYy05ZjA2OGZmNzM5OGU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
4. Worthing Pier Day 2006
Punch and Judy man Joe Burns ready for a show Photo: Mick Canning