Photographer of Aberfan tragedy clock dies, aged 85
THE PHOTOGRAPHER who captured one of the defining images of the aftermath of the Aberfan d disaster has died.
Tributes have been paid to Godfrey Harris, left, after he died aged 85 on December 16, after a short battle with pneum monia.
Mr Harris, from Birchgrove in Cardiff, worked as a photographer for the South Wales Echo and Western Mail for more than 40 years.
He captured the iconic image of the clock that had stopped ticking during the aftermath of the 1966 disaster.
Starting as a messenger for both newspapers as a teenager, Mr Harris worked his way up to the position of photographer and later became photographic manager.
After the Aberfan disaster on October 21, 1966, the photographer spent several days capturing images of the aftermath of the tragedy.
The disaster killed 116 children and 28 adults when a waste tip slid down the mountainside and engulfed Pantglas Junior School and surrounding homes.
Mr Harris’ famous black and white image shows a dirt-covered clock, recovered from the wreckage. The hands were stopped at 9.13 – the exact moment when tragedy struck that morning. The caption on the original print simply said the clock, which was made in Ystradgynlais, was from one of the terrace houses in Moy Road, Aberfan.
Throughout his career, Mr Harris captured some of the most important moments in Welsh history – and was present during the investiture of Prince Charles on July 1, 1969, in front of 4,000 guests at Caernarfon Castle.
Mr Harris is survived by his wife of 61 years, Margaret, son Christopher and daughter Jane.