Embalmers of Aberfan

I have been unable to find photographs associated with the embalmers of Aberfan. Perhaps it’s for the best.  The people who worked tirelessly to ensure those who had been killed were quickly embalmed. By working fast they could help preserve bodies for viewing. With heavy hearts they performed their duty with care and respect. This piece is a tribute to the embalmers of Aberfan.

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Can you imagine walking into a chapel with embalming tools in hand, surrounded by immeasurable grief, knowing it is your job to embalm the bodies of children and adults killed in the Aberfan disaster.

Can you imagine seeing row after row of blanketed bodies, knowing that most underneath are little children. Knowing their parents are waiting anxiously to receive the news, that no parent ever wants to hear. They must have thought they had walked into hell.

Working with no running water and little light, the embalmers pushed their own emotions aside, to ensure these children received the best possible care. The adults too.

Often overlooked in the tragedy, just like the gravediggers, the embalmers were the unsung heroes. Their commitment and compassion earning them a place in the annals of history. A place, I am sure, they would rather not be.

A famous quote attributed to Sir William Ewart Gladstone the four term UK Prime Minister, perhaps sums up the actions of the embalmers beautifully:

“Show me the manner in which a nation cares for its dead, and I will measure with mathematical exactness the tender mercies of its people, their respect for the laws of the land and their loyalty to high ideals.”