Aberfan

Sneaked a glance across at DH as I was watching this, thinking he was reading. Tears running down his cheeks too.
Anniebach I have no deep words to express my sorrow and anger in equal measure for the sheer waste of life - for those who lost their lives and their futures, for those who lost their loved ones , for those who survived and had to live with the consequences but also my anger for the disgusting cover up afterwards. It should never have happened, the NCB were guilty men and their behaviour was shameful.

I remember my dear old Welsh granny. She was devastated by the Aberfan disaster. She just sat and sobbed. She had grown up in a village like Aberfan . I can see her in her chair to this day. What sad, awful times. I have just watched the programme and was struck by the dignity of the mothers of the village and the closeness of the community. Different times and a disaster that could have been easily prevented if someone had had the will.

I will be thinking of all those children and their families tomorrow. I was 19 at the time and I remember my then boyfriends mother sobbing and then being so angry, saying that it was a disaster which could/should have been avoided if people had only listened. It is one of the standout memories of my teens. Thoughts with you especiallyAnniebach

Good for your grandfather Sue.

Well there is much sadness in Aberfan but there are some very happy little bunnies in the junior school - the Welsh rugby team visited them today

Anniebach, what time is the minutes silence tomorrow, please?

My grandfather knew George Thomas well, from their youth. Grandpa wrote to GT after the suggestion that the tips were cleared using the charity funds, to tell GT exactly what he thought of him. It wasn't polite.

Thank you Jalima, I just wanted to show how the money was used and still is used

A beautiful place, a place to remember and reflect.

Thank you Anniebach

youtu.be/w8E1hau9UUo

I hadn't forgotten it Jalima, I will try to,post a link to show the memorial garden and the graves are kept as they were when first erected ,

Anniebach

I wish they were real ones

and then to make the village pay towards moving the remaining tips was so wrong
I haven't watched the programme yet but I will do, but I did see the clip of George Thomas (later Lord Tonypandy) saying that charity money collected for the village should be used to clearing the rest of the tips.
I had forgotten that.

Anniebach I remember it all vividly- the world was weeping for Aberfan and it will never be forgotten. And we are all on your side. Don't know how the NCB got off Scot free and don't know how they sleep at night with that on their conscience.
God bless you all.

Thank her for us Anniebach and thanks to you too

I have a message for you all from a survivor from the school, but sadly her brother died .
She read your posts and was so moved that after fifty years you still extend such sympathy for her brother, her parents and grandparents, herself and all in the village , she will pass these on to her Aunt in the Wives Club

Giving flowers is a lovely gesture, Anniebach. Your long post is heartbreaking.

True Mrsmopp, they knew the water was there, we all knew , and then to make the village pay towards moving the remaining tips was so wrong , the money was to be used for the upkeep of the memorial garden and the graves . Well we made sure these would not be affected and future generations must do the same. I hope the programme on the inquest and enquiry helped people understand the battle the village had against the NCB.

A lovely gesture, Anniebach

The whole thing could have been prevented as there were enough warnings made but the powers that be ignored the warnings, then denied all responsibility. Thus adding to the agony of thos families. That is unforgivable.

Anniebach I'm sure you have brought together lots of Gnetters and they will all be joining you in their thoughts tomorrow. As always, Gnetters join forces when anyone or everyone needs that extra bit of support.

Thank you all , you have expressed such sorrow for the people of Aberfan and in doing so , you have also expressed your sorrow for my relatives , my friends , my neighbours and been so kind to me. I was dreading this week , felt quite alone , you took that loneliness away .

Our flowers are ordered and will be in the village for Friday

This afternoon I watched the program about the inquiry and the "Surving Aberfan" which oddly was already on Iplayer today.

Very harrowing, with film footage I had never seen before.
Thinking of you this week Anniebach

Anniebach, it would be really nice of you to do that.
My daughter, who was 50 just a couple of weeks ago, watched the Young Wives Club, and wept.
I remember my dad doing the same, saying, "All those little children....."

I've just read your post, Anniebach, there's so often a whole host of stories behind what's reported in the media. Thank you for sharing such personal insights into what happened at Aberfan. Flowers are a lovely idea, bless you for thinking of it. xx

Thank you Annie I appreciate your tbough about the flowers very much. I was 18 and remember my Mum in tears watching the news on TV. I watched the Young Wives Club last week in floods of tears - it really was the tragedy that marked the end of my childhood, and it still moves me greatly. My thoughts will be with you on Friday

These memories are heartbreaking.

I was six at the time of Aberfan, and raised a couple of valleys over. Aberfan is the first event I remember. I remember my mother saying that the Queen was coming to Aberfan on a visit. It must've been in the aftermath of the incident.

Seeing all the footage 50 years later must be so harrowing for those affected.

A generation wiped out. What a tragedy.