Iconic photographs of 20th century Wales, including amazing images taken in mid Wales, have been published in a new book celebrating the work of photographer Geoff Charles.

Among the photographer’s vast collection of images – which are stored at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth – are ones of the Gresford mining disaster, the flooding of Capel Celyn, Lloyd George’s funeral and many other iconic moments.

There are also familiar faces, landscapes and events from mid Wales, such as the first mass protest by Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, which took place at Pont Trefechan in Aberystwyth in 1963.

Published for the first time in an English book by Y Lolfa, Geoff Charles: Wales and the Borders – Photographs of a lost way of life 1930s–1970s is a stunning black-and-white documentary of ordinary life and extraordinary events, and it is the first book in English that chronicles the life and work of celebrated photographer and photojournalist Geoff Charles (1909–2002) who captured a unique record of the 20th century throughout his career.

It includes 120 photographs of Wales and the border areas of England taken from the 1930s to the 1970s as well as a biography written by Ioan Roberts, a journalist colleague who knew the photographer well.

“I first met Geoff Charles beneath the statue of Lloyd George in Caernarfon on St David’s Day 1969,” Ioan recalled.

“We were covering a rally protesting against the forthcoming Investiture of Prince Charles as Prince of Wales for Y Cymro.

“Over the next six years we shared numerous car journeys throughout the northern counties of Wales in pursuit of stories,” says Ioan Roberts.

“Consciously or otherwise we were recording history. Taking good photographs required a lot more technical and visual skills in those days and he possessed the equally vital knack for getting on with people and making his subjects feel at ease.”

See this week’s Cambrian News for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition now