Remember Aberfan

RIP little ones 💐

That's the thing about tragedies like that, isn't it? You have the initial deaths and casualties, but the knock-on effect is felt in the communities for years, often generations. I live in what was a predominantly mining community and the coal 'bings' were a major part of the landscape. We still have some around here - and some do still burn from time to time.

I was in primary school when it happened, I still remember the images from then. We all prayed in class and then in assembly, it was heartbreaking. My thoughts are with the families and the community.

Yes MissInterpreted the knock-on effect goes on and on, one
of my friends was teaching in the school that day, some years
later still a school teacher he went into a walk in cupboard to get books, some one slammed the door, the door slamming and the dark brought it all back, he had a total breakdown and
never recovered.

Anniebach

Quote MissInterpreted Mon 21-Oct-24 11:06:18
Anniebach
Every year for some years, flowers are laid 21st October in Aberfan from Gransnet , thank you
I didn't know that. That's a lovely gesture. Thanks for letting us know.

When I joined Grannet there was a thread like this, I asked if
those posting would like me to include them when I laid flowers every year, I had permission from the moderators too.

Thank you, Anniebach. It is indeed a lovely gesture.

I’m too young to remember it but have seen a documentary about it, just terrible, the school and all those young ones.
It was an accident but an accident waiting to happen and was preventable 🤬

Thank you Annie.

Anniebach

Every year for some years, flowers are laid 21st October in Aberfan from Gransnet , thank you

Thank you*Annie*.

I was in Yr5 at Grammar School and remember coming home to find my Mum and Gran in tears.

This is a mining area here and all the pit heaps have been landscaped and covered by grass and trees. I doubt many of the young ones actually are aware of what went on below their feet.

At least Durham City still hosts the annual miners gala, but almost taken over now by other causes.
I remember as a child, banners draped in black ribbons and the village brass band marching in silence to mark a fatality at their pit.

I remember watching with my mum. My abiding memory is the way all the men stopped digging and the total silence when a whistle was blown because somebody thought they heard something. I will never forget that day.

I was 11 at the time.
I remember watching on the tv. Something I'll never forget.
Rest in peace to all who lost their lives in the tragedy and suffered in the aftermath.
Thank you Anniebach

It happened just after 9am too, just as school was starting. If it had only been 12 hours earlier, or later - or a weekend. The randomness. The difference a few hours either way, not to be.

l was 10 and remember the Headmaster ( Mr Donnaly ) going into each classroom and breaking the news. until the M4 was built you could see the cemetery from the road on our way to West Wales, where the graves were, and they looked dark Grey, sad and hopeless. Everyone in the car would go quiet.
We still go to West Wales and occasionally take that road (probable A4) but that grave yard looks frozen in time. The grief is still palpable. l heard a program on the radio regarding the money that was collected for the families but the allocation of this money seemed very insensitive. l often wonder what happens to the big collections after a disaster you rarely hear.

I am 79 now and during my lifetime there have been many dreadful happenings in various places but for some reason this one has always stayed with me, more than others. It happened 5 days before the birth of our first baby and I don't think my (now) late husband and I have ever been so upset and horrified by a disaster.
I don't think many people, whether they were connected to the town or not, will ever forget the tragedy that was Aberfan. RIP all who died because of it.

We were in Senghenydd, visiting my grandmother, with our year old son, when the disaster at Aberfan happened.
Senghenydd was the site of another dreadful disaster.

I was in primary school, and can honestly say there have been few things that have affected me as deeply since. Maybe we had just got first tv so weren't hardened to it all yet. But I think the loss of all their primary children in a closeknit small village was very relatable to us, & would have made us profoundly sad anytime.

I was in my first year of nurse training in London.That week was our first holiday,a group of the girls travelled down to Aberfan to help.I remember it so well, I thought they were so brave.

Horrendous tragedy,will never forget it.

I remember Cliff Michelmore weeping as he delivered the news on TV; it was unspeakable. What terrible timing. Evidently the Coal Board, as it then was, used some of the disaster fund to clear up after the tragedy that could have been avoided. They were warned that the heap was unstable.

I lived in another valley over the mountain , remember our parents taking us must have been months ( possibly a year ) to lay flowers somewhere in the village , thank you to Annibach for laying flowers

Anniebach

Every year for some years, flowers are laid 21st October in Aberfan from Gransnet , thank you

That's good to know. Thank you

I had just turned 11 and had started at high school. My new school was closed for the day to prepare for an Open Day and I went back to my primary school at lunch time to see everyone, and tell my old teacher about my new school.
I remember looking around and feeling very upset, imagining a disaster at my little primary school of 90 children.

Some flowers for you Anniebach 💐

I also have clear memory of this dreadful day; I was eight when it happened. Later I lived in South Wales for a while and the memory is so much part of the fabric of the Valleys.

Thank you Anniebach for your thoughtful gesture.

Thank you, I have passed on your messages .
I was born in Aberfan, was a pupil in that school. 21Oct. 1966 I
was at work in a. Office 25 miles away. Received a telephone call , nightmare began, may I give explain a couple of things ?

It was not an accident, Lord Robens head of the NCB, formerly
a Labour MP and active trade unionist lied.

The Queen came to Aberfan 5 visits, Prince Phillip went several times, Tony Armstrong Jones went by train the same day, the King has been and the Prince and Princess of Wales
came last year, forget The Crown, after visiting the graves the
Queen visited a house , sat there for about half hour hugged a
grieving mother and yes definitely cried.

Money came from all over the world, the NCB declared £500
for each death, they also sent caravans for the homeless and
charged rent for each household.

Harold Wilson said the remaining tips would be removed ,
changed his mind, the disaster fund had to pay some of it.

Lord Robens claimed the disaster happened because there were unknown springs under the tips, a lie there ,evidence was
presented showing it was common knowledge there were springs, Robens offered his resignation, after being assured it
would be refused, he offered and Wilson refused , Robens had support from unions too.

When Blair was PM he returned the money which had been taken from the disaster fund to remove the tips.

At the inquest a very close family friend of my father stood and
demanded cause of death - murdered by the National Coal
Board, he was grieving for 2 sons and his wife who was killed
in their own house he didn’t even have a home to return to.

Forgive this long post but we do not want the truth hidden.

Thank you Anniebach. This was a heartbreaking tragedy that should not have happened.

Thank you, Anniebach for your contribution to this thread and also the laying of the flowers….🌹🌹🌹