Born Molly Noyle Thomas in February 1932, she came from a Garw Valley family of preachers, teachers and miners.
Both her parents were alcoholics and later in life she revealed her father had abused her until she was saved by World War Two and moving away.
Her grandfather was a deacon and mother played an organ in the Presbyterian chapel.
“It was very religious,” Parkin recalled.
“We went three times on Sunday and in the week as well, we were living on the side of a mountain anyway and God seemed very close, just at the top.
“I wasn’t allowed to walk on the same side of the street as the pub.”
About her mother she said she was “the beauty of the valley – with strange navy blue eyes and the personality to go with it.
“She would have been an amazing concert pianist but the nervous system wasn’t there, there was great expectation on her with her looks. She was in and out of psychiatric wards throughout our girlhood.
“She’d be in the front room pounding Beethoven or some dramatic score with the door locked. I do have turbulent feelings when I go to concerts and hear that sort of music.”
