Mel Parry donates Aberfan disaster photography award to Amgueddfa Cymru
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 10
Mel Parry donates Aberfan disaster photography award to Amgueddfa Cymru
7 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 10
Parry, 18 when he took the image in 1966, said the award-winning photograph still haunts him ahead of the disaster's 60th anniversary.
The picture showed PC Victor Jones carrying eight-year-old survivor Susan Maybank after the spoil tip collapse killed 116 children and 28 adults in Aberfan.
Parry, who lost two cousins and later left photography, said he hopes the image helps people remember the tragedy; Maybank died in 2025.
A photo haunted its creator for 60 years. How have the ethics of photographing tragedy evolved since 1966?
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How are industrial scars from the Aberfan era being transformed into renewable energy hubs for Wales?
Defining Aberfan: Mel Parry’s Photograph, National Memory, and the Lasting Impact of the 1966 Disaster
Overview
The report highlights how Mel Parry’s photograph of eight-year-old Susan Maybank being carried to safety by policeman Victor Jones became the defining image of the Aberfan disaster. Captured on the day of the tragedy, the photograph powerfully encapsulated the immediate aftermath and the deep human cost, quickly appearing on the front pages of every national newspaper in the UK and spreading worldwide. Its immense impact shaped public memory, with commentators comparing its significance to other iconic images in history. The report also explores the personal burden on Parry and the ongoing efforts to preserve Aberfan’s legacy through museums and commemorations.