A well-known local news photographer has died aged 78. Known as the “King of the Camera,” John Llewellyn Wright, has left an unforgettable legacy and helped tell many stories during his 44-year-long career.
John was born in Merthyr and had a passion for photography from a young age. His career as a local newspaper photographer started when he was only 16 years old at the Merthyr Express newspaper. He then moved to the Aberdare/ Cynon Valley Leader in his twenties, where he became a household name throughout the Cynon Valley.
Over the years his pictures helped tell local stories that shaped people’s lives in the valleys over four decades. John captured the big, small, sad and happy moments, from Royal visits to children’s sports and Saint David’s Day events. He also covered the Raglan coach crash during the 90s and the bitter conflict of the miners strike in the 80s. But his most memorable and difficult assignment was capturing the tragic events of the Aberfan disaster in 1966. He told his friends and family that it was devastating, and something he would never forget.
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In the late 1960’s, John became the Leader’s official staff photographer. During his career he worked for eight different editors and saw the photography develop from negatives and prints to the new age of the digital camera, before he retired in 2004.
John married his wife Gaynor in 1973 and they had two children together, Emma Wright, 48, and Christopher Wright, 45. Sadly, Gaynor passed away in 2015, a few years before John’s four-year-old granddaughter Lottie was born. John adored his family, especially Lottie, who was a ray of sunshine in his later life. His children are sad to say goodbye to such a fantastic Dad.
After he retired, John had been in poor health for a number of years following a severe stroke at 64 years old. After his stroke, John struggled to walk far, but he took on the challenge to walk around the Principality Stadium in aid of The Stroke Association. His family was really proud of this huge achievement.
His funeral will be held at 10am on Friday, December 16 at Llwydcoed Crematorium. The family have said everyone is welcome to pay their respects and say goodbye to the Cynon Valley’s retired “King of the Camera”. Donations to the Stroke Association are welcomed in lieu of flowers. You can donate here.
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