Queen Victoria's death after such a long and prosperous reign sent shockwaves around the Empire.

Millions of people were plunged into mourning, from Australia to Canada to India.

At the time of her death, on January 22, 1901, Britannia ruled the waves and one third of the world.

The Boer War, costly in terms of both lives and money, had cast a shadow over Victoria's twilight years. But patriotism remained at fever pitch.

When Victoria was crowned queen at Westminster Abbey on June 28, 1838, Worthing was a popular health resort. The roads were lit by gaslights and the railway had yet to arrive.

The town staged a special festival, paid for by public subscription, to mark the spectacular Coronation.

The total cost of the celebrations was £116 16 shillings and ten pence, which helped buy 1,200lb of beef, 350 gallons of beer, 150 loaves of bread and ten bushels of flour, 160lb of currants and raisins, 80lb of moist sugar and 369 yards of stout calico.

The services of the military band cost £5 5s.

Four years after the Coronation, she passed through Worthing during a carriage journey from Brighton (which she loathed) to Portsmouth.

The Queen, accompanied by Prince Albert, who was wearing a Field Marshal's uniform, left Brighton on Monday, February 21, 1842.

Worthing's civic leaders hastily arranged a welcoming party and provided fresh horses at the Marine Hotel on the seafront.

Schoolchildren lined Chapel Road and South Street as her escort of Scots Greys arrived.

A report recorded: "During the few minutes of Her Majesty's stay here, the crowd, consisting of persons of all classes and ages, from the highest to the lowest, and from the age of three score and ten to the infant in arms, greeted their sovereign and her Royal Consort with the most enthusiastic cheers, which were graciously acknowledged by the illustrious pair."

The Union flag was hoisted at the Marine Hotel and the town hall, and a banner was strung across South Street stating: "Hail Queen Victoria."

The town band, on a platform outside the Marine Hotel, struck up the National Anthem as the Queen headed for Broadwater Green before trotting along what is now the A27, past Castle Goring, which was gaily decorated.

Victoria made her second visit in February 1845, again changing horses at the Marine Hotel as the royal entourage made its way to Arundel.

As she left the town, a snowstorm broke, forcing the Queen to close the windows on her carriage.

During the golden jubilee celebrations of 1887, a public dinner was staged in the town, with tickets costing 6d each.

There was also a procession, which started at Liverpool Gardens and featured the Band of the Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers, coastguards, members of the Royal Sussex Regiment, the lifeboat crew, Worthing Total Abstinence Union and Worthing Bicycle and Tricycle Club.

A decade later, an even bigger party was staged for the diamond jubilee, complete with a children's tea at Homefield Park and a dinner for the aged poor in Steyne Gardens.

When Victoria's death was announced, Worthing effectively shut down. The panto Puss in Boots at the Theatre in Ann Street was halted and shops shut.

Just over a century later, Victoria still influences the life of the town.

While many fine villas built during her reign have been demolished and others have been turned into flats, some still remain.

We have the obligatory Victoria Road and in Charlecote Road there is a fine terracotta plaque commemorating her glorious reign.