A Photographer Recreated His Photos From 40 Years Ago With the Same People
For decades, street photographer Chris Porsz has wandered the streets of Peterborough, England, capturing people in unscripted moments: teenagers laughing, shopkeepers chatting, and parents juggling their kids. Those candid shots from the 1970s through the 1990s became snapshots of real life. Forty years later, he found many of his old subjects and recreated these nostalgic photos.
Five Boys Running
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Five school friends sprinted down a Peterborough street in 1987, laughing as a camera caught them midstride. Nearly thirty years later, they met again in the same spot, their smiles unchanged. Andy joined Royal Mail, Richard became an electrician, and Devinder worked in housing.
Sisters In The Window
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Shehnaz, Rukhsana, and Itrat Begum spent childhood afternoons perched on their Cromwell Road windowsill, watching the street below. The 1980 photo showed their curiosity. Decades later, they gathered again in the same spot, now mothers and professionals in Peterborough.
Metal Mickey
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Steve Osborn, nicknamed “Metal Mickey,” earned his moniker after motorcycle crashes left both legs fitted with metal plates in the 1980s. Despite it, he kept riding. When he recreated his portrait in 2016, he stood with walking sticks and a grin, working as a musician and fundraiser for disabled bikers.
Dog And Tina
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In 1985, Tina Tarr and her partner Dog posed near Peterborough Cathedral, their punk look impossible to miss. They reunited decades later to recreate the image. Tina became a willow weaver in Dorset, and Dog worked as a gardener in Wales. Both laughed at the memory of their loud, colorful youth.
Jewelry Assistant
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Vicki Gracey was photographed in 1990 behind the counter of a jewelry shop, helping customers choose gifts. Twenty-five years later, she posed again in the same place. She had spent her career in retail, hospitality, and housing support.
Ice Creams In The Garden
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Donna and Steven Yarnell were captured in 1981, happily eating ice cream in their front yard. They returned decades later to the same garden, the gate still standing. Donna worked in a pub, and Steven raised his son nearby. Their laughter in the photo echoed the joy of childhood summers.
Pink Mohican
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In 1985, Badger Farcue became briefly famous after winning a pizza-eating contest in Cathedral Square, polishing off a twelve-inch pie in two minutes. When he recreated the photo in 2016, he had swapped his pink mohawk for a hard hat, working as a tarmac layer in Somerset.
Good Friends
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In 1980, four friends posed proudly, their carefully tousled hair and confident looks capturing the spirit of the times. Decades later, they stood together again, laughing at their younger selves and those mirror-filled mornings. The recreated photo showed that while fashions fade, friendship (and a good sense of humor) never really does.
Double Bubble
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Anna and Emma Hankins were photographed blowing Hubba Bubba bubbles in 1980 while waiting for their mother to shop. When they recreated the scene in 2012, it took several attempts before they got it right. Both became hairdressers, later shifting to healthcare and retail.
The Ice Cream Seller
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Genesio “Gino” Borrillo was pictured in 1980 serving customers from his cheerful ice cream van. Years later, he stood outside the pasta shop he opened in 1992, now run with his daughter. He’s now married with children and grandchildren.
County School Girls
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In 1979, classmates Sandra Williams, Carmen Chin, and Maureen Mayers posed together outside their grammar school. Decades passed before they met again to recreate it, laughing for old times’ sake. Each had built a life filled with family and work.
Hairdresser’s Doorway
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Sandra Burford was photographed entering a salon in 1980, wrapped in a fur coat and confidence. Decades later, she stood in the same doorway, now a Toni & Guy. After years at a Hotpoint factory and time spent with her grandchildren, her grace and style remained unmistakable.
Queuing For The Phone
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In 1981, John, Paul, and Andrew waited their turn at a payphone. When they met again, the booth had been replaced by an ATM. John worked as a plumber, Paul joined a racing team, and Andrew cleaned windows in Essex.
The Butcher
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At seventeen, Richard Price stood proudly outside the butcher shop where he worked after leaving school. Years later, he returned to the same spot, now a café, smiling for the camera once more. His career had shifted to entertainment, but his cheerful spirit stayed exactly where it began.
Railway Kiss
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Tony Wilmot and his girlfriend Sally were caught in a goodbye kiss at Peterborough Station in 1980. A newspaper rediscovered the photo thirty years later, and Tony’s father recognized them. The pair had married soon after that day and returned in 2009 to restage their kiss, still as close as ever.