Aberfan portraits that helped grieving families remember their children

Portraits painted for bereaved families after the 1966 Aberfan disaster are now prompting questions about how the village’s memories will be preserved as the generation directly affected grows older.

Artist William Richardson, who lived in Llandudno and had no connection to Aberfan, began painting the children after seeing the disaster on television and in newspapers. He worked from school photographs and letters from parents describing their children’s appearance, clothes and personalities. His family says he never sought payment or recognition for the work. [1]

A coal tip collapsed above Aberfan on 21 October 1966, burying Pantglas Junior School and nearby homes. The disaster killed 144 people, including 116 children. Richardson is believed to have painted about 100 portraits in the years that followed. [1]

For families, the paintings helped keep the children present in everyday life. Denise Morgan, whose sister Annette died, said of the portrait: “It brought her back to life.” Jeanette Keane recalled her father crying when Edwina’s painting arrived. [1]

Survivor Gaynor Madgwick said the portraits helped people talk about the children again. But families now face different choices about their future: some paintings remain treasured possessions or have passed to younger relatives, while others have gone to a local museum. Madgwick’s family buried their portraits with her mother. [1]

The portraits are featured in the BBC programme *Unseen: The Aberfan Portraits*, available on BBC iPlayer and scheduled for BBC One Wales at 22:40 BST on Monday 19 October. [1]