As photographer Danny Beath was laid to rest, he won national award
This stunning image by one of Shropshire's best-loved photographers has been named the winner of a prestigious national competition – with the announcement of his latest contest success coming on the day of his funeral.
Danny Beath, who died last month at the age of 52 after collapsing in the street outside his house in New Street, Shrewsbury, has been named the posthumous winner of the Wanderlust Travel Photo of the Year competition 2012.
Dr Beath's prize would have been a photographic commission to travel to Papua New Guinea, plus new camera equipment.
His win was announced yesterday afternoon – at the same time that his funeral was taking place in Shrewsbury.
He had been a finalist in the Wanderlust competition on seven occasions but had never won first prize.
Wanderlust editor-in-chief Lyn Hughes said: "Danny was thrilled to have made it into the final of the Photo Awards yet again.
"He was particularly delighted as it was with a British landscape – he had always entered photos from overseas in previous years.
"He commented on our website on how excited he was.
"We already knew that he had actually won this year, but I couldn't reveal it. I just wish he'd known before he'd died, because it would have meant so much to him.
"He was a great talent and a lovely man."
