George Herd

Sixty years after the Prince of Wales pleasure boat sank on Wales's Mawddach Estuary, survivor Peter Watts returned to commemorate his parents, brother and sister, who were among 15 people killed. The overcrowded boat struck the Penmaenpool toll bridge, and an inquiry found skipper Edward Llewelyn had acted negligently; the vessel also lacked sufficient lifebelts and crew. No prosecutions followed, but the disaster prompted changes to passenger-capacity and insurance laws. A new memorial in Dolgellau now lists all 15 victims.

Peter Watts recalls losing his parents, brother and sister in the 1966 sinking of the Prince of Wales pleasure boat on Wales's Mawddach Estuary. The overloaded vessel struck the Penmaenpool toll bridge, throwing 42 passengers into the water; 15 people died. An official inquiry found that the boat exceeded its certified capacity, lacked sufficient crew and safety equipment, and that skipper Edward Llewelyn had acted negligently. The disaster led to changes in passenger and insurance regulations. Sixty years later, Dolgellau Town Council unveiled a memorial naming all 15 victims at Peter's request.