Worthing

Worthing is the largest town and a local government district in West Sussex, England. It has a population of almost 100,000 and is situated between the coast and the South Downs. It is often considered a retirement town, and has the third busiest crematorium in Europe; it has also had an active underground culture for many years, though. The Worthing Workshop (a late-60s meeting place for musicians, actors and poets whose famous sons include The Damned’s Brian James, Leo Sayer, Billy Idol, Martin Quittenton (who wrote Rod Stewart’s Maggie May) and Track Record’s supremo Ian Grant); Deadline (Featuring Jamie Hewlett's Tank Girl); and more recently the Revolutionary Arts Groop .

Literary and artistic connections

• Percy Bysshe Shelley's first two works were printed in a Warwick Street building in 1810 and 1811.
• Oscar Wilde wrote The Importance of Being Earnest in Worthing in 1884, and used the name as his character Jack's surname.
• Members of the popular grindcore band Lightning War grew up and reportedly continue to live in Worthing.