Port Sunlight Photographer of the Year 2025 winner announced

The winner of the Port Sunlight Photographer of the Year 2025 competition has been revealed.

In the competition’s second year, photographers of all levels of experience were invited to submit their snaps taken in and around the famous Wirral village, which is one of the finest surviving examples of an industrial worker village in the world. The theme was ‘your favourite view’. The competition is organised by Port Sunlight Village Trust, with entry fees going to support their work to protect the village’s several important monuments including the Boating Pond.

Following judging by acclaimed sculptor and Fire Station resident Emma Rodgers alongside curator James Lawler, the competition organisers at Port Sunlight Village Trust have announced the winner to be Garry Hodgson’s Night Traffic Around the War Memorial which uses a long exposure technique to create an exciting take on one of the village’s most photographed features.

Garry’s winning photo will be appear on the cover of the new 2026 Port Sunlight calendar, which will go on sale this autumn at Port Sunlight Museum’s gift shop and online.

Garry Hodgson, the competition winner, said: “I’m a member of a few photography clubs, one of which called Wirral 20 meets on a Wednesday morning at the Lever Club in Port Sunlight. Consequently, it seemed very appropriate to enter as it’s on the doorstep. In the late sixties early seventies I worked for Lever Brothers in the Quality Control Lab, which gives another connection. The brief for the competition asked for images of Port Sunlight but with something different. I thought the night shot would be different with the traffic trails adding that bit extra.”

The two runners-up are Sandiyah Hutton’s Evening Bowls and David Kelly’s Autumn in the Dell. Both photos will also appear in the calendar, alongside a selection of other entries.

Sandiyah Hutton, runner-up, said: “I entered the photography competition as I always was in awe of the beauty of Port Sunlight as I travel through it to and from work and consider myself grateful that I live within walking distance of the village. The photograph was taken on a sunny evening in early April, whilst out walking the dog with my fiancé. I noticed a lawn bowls game taking place and approached the players during a break in play and asked if I had their permission to take a few photographs and they were more than happy to oblige. I was pleased with the results and decided one of the photos taken at the bowling green was the perfect entry into this competition, showcasing the element that makes Port Sunlight what it is – community spirit.”

David Kelly, runner-up, said: “I entered because I really enjoy taking images in Port Sunlight and it’s great that the competition helps raise money towards funding the conservation of such an important heritage site or one of Wirral’s ‘jewels in the crown’ as I call it. As a member of Bebington Photographic Society I am always on the lookout for photo opportunities and when I spotted the sandstone bridge in the Dell, surrounded by fallen leaves together with all the autumnal colours of the trees, I just pressed the shutter.”