Child Graves in Aberfan Cemetery
In February 2012 my wife and I took a break in the Welsh Valleys and paid a visit to the cemetery in the village of Aberfan. I was only nine years old when disaster struck this coal mining community. I was a similar age to the 116 children who lost their lives on that morning of 21st October 1966, when a mountainous avalanche of coal mining waste, buried their school.
The news coverage of that dreadful event echoed throughout Britain and around the world. Horrific images of the event were burned in my psyche. As a young child my heart went out to the people of Aberfan. Memories of their suffering and distress, remain vivid, in my memory.
When reading the gravestone inscriptions the depth of emotional loss that was experienced by those grieving parents, strikes home. They were fully justified in feeling outraged at the authorities. They had the power to prevent such a tragedy but were negligent. However there is no bitterness expressed on these memorials.
Instead, the messages here, reflect only shock, sadness, grief, love and hope. The sentiments are deeply personal and shared with us (the public). It was a humbling privilege to be included, to share in these parting thoughts and wishes.
I noted some recurring themes in the memorial messages. Certainly there was, powerful and enduring affection for those that had been lost. There was also a common sense of bewilderment, begging the question, why? Why did this have to happen. Some seemed committed to the belief that God may have taken their children as angels to heaven. In my experience, this concept is something that divides opinion with strong feelings. Whilst it is understandable that some seek solace from this idea, others might feel uncomfortable with it. They may ask, 'does a loving God do such things i.e. snatch children away from their parents, just to enlarge his own family?'
A child’s untimely death brings great sadness, hurt, and pain. What hope, then, do grieving parents have? According to the Bible writers (inspired by Holy Spirit) there will be a future resurrection on a paradise earth when beloved family members will be reunited. For example, in the Bible book of Acts 24:15 we read, " and I have hope toward God, which hope these [men] themselves also entertain, that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous." And at John 5:28 we read, "Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice". There are many other references that, when put together and seen in context, provide a picture for genuine hope.
Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: 16-35 mm
Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture: f/11.0
Focal Length: 35 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
DSC_0497
Child Graves in Aberfan Cemetery
In February 2012 my wife and I took a break in the Welsh Valleys and paid a visit to the cemetery in the village of Aberfan. I was only nine years old when disaster struck this coal mining community. I was a similar age to the 116 children who lost their lives on that morning of 21st October 1966, when a mountainous avalanche of coal mining waste, buried their school.
The news coverage of that dreadful event echoed throughout Britain and around the world. Horrific images of the event were burned in my psyche. As a young child my heart went out to the people of Aberfan. Memories of their suffering and distress, remain vivid, in my memory.
When reading the gravestone inscriptions the depth of emotional loss that was experienced by those grieving parents, strikes home. They were fully justified in feeling outraged at the authorities. They had the power to prevent such a tragedy but were negligent. However there is no bitterness expressed on these memorials.
Instead, the messages here, reflect only shock, sadness, grief, love and hope. The sentiments are deeply personal and shared with us (the public). It was a humbling privilege to be included, to share in these parting thoughts and wishes.
I noted some recurring themes in the memorial messages. Certainly there was, powerful and enduring affection for those that had been lost. There was also a common sense of bewilderment, begging the question, why? Why did this have to happen. Some seemed committed to the belief that God may have taken their children as angels to heaven. In my experience, this concept is something that divides opinion with strong feelings. Whilst it is understandable that some seek solace from this idea, others might feel uncomfortable with it. They may ask, 'does a loving God do such things i.e. snatch children away from their parents, just to enlarge his own family?'
A child’s untimely death brings great sadness, hurt, and pain. What hope, then, do grieving parents have? According to the Bible writers (inspired by Holy Spirit) there will be a future resurrection on a paradise earth when beloved family members will be reunited. For example, in the Bible book of Acts 24:15 we read, " and I have hope toward God, which hope these [men] themselves also entertain, that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous." And at John 5:28 we read, "Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice". There are many other references that, when put together and seen in context, provide a picture for genuine hope.
Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: 16-35 mm
Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture: f/11.0
Focal Length: 35 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
DSC_0497