Aberfan Disaster

[norfolk brummie]

On the day of the terrible disaster in Aberfan, I was actually in Cardiff & Newport for the day. I did not go any where near Aberfan on that day, although everyone was aware of the terrible event.

I had to drive that way two or three weeks after the horrific event, and witnessed the awful destruction caused by the coal tip mud slide. Work was in progress on clearing up the damage that caused the needles death of those poor children and teachers.
As time passed, I saw the raising of the memorial in memory of those that died that sad day. From day one, my Welsh friends were aware of the reason for the disaster, a coal tip that had been built on water springs.

I will not dwell on the aftermath of the tragedy, since much has been written. That and the wonderful documentary on TV last evening reminds everyone of the event.

I know that Birmingham and Wales have always enjoyed a very close relationship, and I am sure that, even today, almost 50 years after the event, the people of Birmingham still feel the pain of that close knit Aberfan mining community, the lives that were lost, and affected, and the long fight for justice.

The most distasteful events that happened after the tragedy, the denial of the National Coal Board that it was not their responsibility that it happened, but most of all, Lord Robens, the Chairman of the N.C.B, who went asked if he should resign, responded with a smirk and a smile "I could walk away tomorrow, with a better job, and three times better pay".

The Aberfan disaster is one of these terrible days that we should never forget.

R.I.P. Those lovely young children, and their teachers.

Eddie

 

[Astoness]

yes eddie this was a disaster that must never be forgotten...it occured on friday the 21st of october 1966 so this friday is the 50th anniversary i was almost 13 at the time..i well remember seeing it on the tv and in the newspapers...it has always stayed with me so 2 years ago i did something i have always wanted to do...i visited aberfan and paid my respects at the memorial to those who lost their lives then i sat for a while in the peace garden to reflect..the garden was once the site of the junior school..behind it is where the land slide occured..i will post the photos i took on friday....god bless them all

lyn

 

[norfolk brummie]

Wonderful. Thank you so much Lyn.

 

[Vivienne14]

I too remember it vividly Lyn. It's also stayed with me since. RIP those who lost their lives.

Viv.

 

[Alberta]

I had a 4yr old and had just found out I was expecting my second son, I watched the TV and wept for those mothers.

 

[Astoness]

i would imagine there will be a big turnout tomorrow to pay their respects...

 

[pjmburns]

I would have been 14 and can still vividly remember the shock as the story unfolded. I can still see Cliff Michelmore reporting from Aberfan moved almost to tears.

 

[Astoness]

tonight channel 4 9 oclock..surviving aberfan....link below which also shows the mass funeral of those who lost their lives....i wished i had not watched it as i am now in tears...will not be watching tonights programme as i have seen enough but will be thinking of them tomorrow also the prime minister has called for everyone to observe a mins silence at 9.15 tomorrow morning



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...imary-school-116-children-28-adults-died.html

 

[Vivienne14]

This was probably the first disaster that really registered with me as a young person. Like others, I watched the reports on TV and remember feeling so desperately sickened by what those poor young children and teachers suffered. It was the first time I'd seen the unthinkable happen, and like the later Dunblane massacre, it showed me what a dreadfully harsh place this world can be for some. For those whose lives were touched or altered by this, you're in my thoughts. Viv,

 

[Pedrocut]

Thanks to Norfolk Brummie for mentioning the role of Lord Robens after the terrible disater.

He was Labour MP for Wansbeck division of Northumberland in 1945, and he remained MP for this mining community (later renamed Blyth) until 1960.

But when the Conservative Prime Minister Harold Macmillan offered him the chairmanship of the National Coal Board (NCB) in 1960 (as successor to Sir James Bowman) he willingly accepted, and probably good for everyone it meant he would not become a Labour PM.

Probably the worst kind of Socialist, he acquired a large Daimler (registered as NCB1), a private plane, and an apartment in Eaton Square, besides the sobriquet Old King Coal. He gained the reputation of running the NCB like a feudal kingdom...

"Robens, had decided to honour a prior public engagement (his installation as chancellor of Surrey University) rather than visit the disaster scene immediately....When he did arrive his actions and personality appeared tactless to the local community. After a tribunal scathingly criticized the NCB and Robens, he tendered his resignation to the government—but it was declined. Robens then fought doggedly to prevent the NCB having to pay for the removal of the tip (eventually the government raided the Aberfan disaster fund for £150,000—a scandalous decision that was reversed only in 1997)."

"He was remembered as a ‘big, jolly man, a supreme extrovert whose boundless self-confidence, vigour and strength of feeling often gave him an aura of superficiality which he did not merit. Nothing could knock him down … [and] … he always landed on his feet’ (The Independent, 29 June 1999)."

https://www.rydermarshsharman.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/TM_The-flawed-hero-1.pdf

 

[Dave M]

Have visited Aberfan a few times pics from June 2007

 

[Astoness]

dave thank you for posting your photos.

 

[Astoness]

THINKING OF EVERYONE IN ABERFAN ON THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THIS TERRIBLE TRAGEDY...GOD BLESS THEM ALL...

a few photos that i took when i visited 2 years ago to pay my respects..the memorial gardens built on the site of the school is a fitting tribute..

 

[Big Gee]

The Aberfan Disaster had quite an effect on me. Several times over the years I've visited the Pantglas Memorial, not because I had any personal connection with any of the victims, but just to sit and think. I know we're not supposed to be 'political' on this Forum, but prior to Aberfan I was a young and quite ardent Socialist. That ended due to the behaviour of both Robens and the Government - how anyone claiming to stand up for the rights of the common man could react in such a fashion to what happened at Aberfan was beyond me, and still is. One hundred and forty-four preventable deaths, because people did not listen.

G

 

[Astoness]

hi G...of course you are quite right..this forum is not a political platform but your feelings are understandable..mine is the same..but this is a subject that surely everyone who knows the story of aberfan must all be in agreement about(no debate needed) it had such a profound impact on people around the world...no need for me to go into the details of how the disaster came about...the facts are simple..enough warnings were voiced and fears of what may happen were given many years prior to this disaster...it should and could have been avoided...so once again on this very sad day for the people of aberfan...GOD BLESS THEM ALL..

lyn

 

[rowan]

The memories came pouring back of that terrible day 50 years ago.
I was living in Cheltenham at the time having moved from Sutton Coldfield. As soon as my children were home from school (2 at school 1 under school age) I took them in my arms and I thanked God I had them safe with me. My heart bled for those children but it broke for their family's who would have to on living with the horror. God Bless them all.

 

[Pedrocut]

Teacher who led Aberfan pupils to safety dies, aged 75...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-45227441

 

[Astoness]

may she rest in peace...a very brave lady

 

[Elmdon Boy]

What a lovely lady, so sad.
She's with her little children now, RIP.

 

[postie]

R.I.P, respect..

 

[Big Gee]

The reason I visited the Pantglas Memorial more than once over the years is that my employer had a number of customers in the general area, and it was part of my job to visit them, and I sometimes took the opportunity to go to the Memorial Garden. Even 30 or 40 years later you could feel the sadness and grief - it was almost tangible. The disaster had a big effect on me, as it had on millions of people all round the world. And to think that the NCB initially offered each bereaved family the princely sum of £50 - fifty pounds! And that the Labour Government plundered the disaster fund to assist in the costs of removing the tip. Sorry if this is considered a bit too political...........

"The worst sin toward our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them: that's the essence of inhumanity"

George Bernard Shaw

G

 

[Astoness]

G as i said on post 14 in 2016 your feelings i am sure are the same as all of us...even after all these years it really was an unforgivable tragedy

lyn

 

[richardinwales]

My father in law was one of many miners who helped after the tip hit...very very sad

 

[oldbrit]

Wonderful. Thank you so much Lyn.

EDDIE Miss you mate. Wish you still here with your comments RIP mate

 

[Bill Boyd]

Remembering that dreadful day 52 years ago today. RIP

 

[Radiorails]

There are some beautiful photographs and other things in the earlier part of this thread. Worth looking at and reflecting about.
This photograph of H.M. The Queen encapsulates the feelings of the country at the time. A quite unusual view of her for sure.

 

[Dave M]

Remembering

 

[Astoness]

GOD BLESS THEM ALL

 

[ellbrown]

When I was last in Menai Bridge Town on a 2nd Anglesey holiday in August, saw this memorial after walking over the Menai Suspension Bridge again.

Relating to the Aberfan disaster.



Memorial bench.

 

[wendylee]

On the day of the terrible disaster in Aberfan, I was actually in Cardiff & Newport for the day. I did not go any where near Aberfan on that day, although everyone was aware of the terrible event.

I had to drive that way two or three weeks after the horrific event, and witnessed the awful destruction caused by the coal tip mud slide. Work was in progress on clearing up the damage that caused the needles death of those poor children and teachers.
As time passed, I saw the raising of the memorial in memory of those that died that sad day. From day one, my Welsh friends were aware of the reason for the disaster, a coal tip that had been built on water springs.

I will not dwell on the aftermath of the tragedy, since much has been written. That and the wonderful documentary on TV last evening reminds everyone of the event.

I know that Birmingham and Wales have always enjoyed a very close relationship, and I am sure that, even today, almost 50 years after the event, the people of Birmingham still feel the pain of that close knit Aberfan mining community, the lives that were lost, and affected, and the long fight for justice.

The most distasteful events that happened after the tragedy, the denial of the National Coal Board that it was not their responsibility that it happened, but most of all, Lord Robens, the Chairman of the N.C.B, who went asked if he should resign, responded with a smirk and a smile "I could walk away tomorrow, with a better job, and three times better pay".

The Aberfan disaster is one of these terrible days that we should never forget.

R.I.P. Those lovely young children, and their teachers.

Eddie

I too was shattered by the Aberfan disaster , I was 16 years old and lived in Birmingham.
In 1983 I was once again reminded of it. My husband and our daughter and son emigrated to and started our new life in Lara, Victoria, Australia.
When my children started school at Lara Lake school in Lara, victoria we were amazed to see the school emblem was a welsh dragon. We were surprised to hear that in 1966 when the Aberfan disaster occurred the children of Lara Lake school raised money and sent letters of empathy of encouragement and support to the beleaguered Aberfan school and its survivors.
The residents of Aberfan sent back letters of thanks as well as pictures of the welsh dragon- the emblem of the flag of wales. Subsequently Lara Lake primary school adopted the emblem of the welsh dragon for their official school emblem and it remains today.

In a twist of irony in 1969 a huge grass fire destroyed the main Lara Lake school along with much of the Lara township building. Students began their new year in a nearby methodist church school building. Eventually seven new classrooms and an administration buildings were opened in 1970. The Aberfan community donated money to Lara Lake school which was used to purchase an electric clock for each school classroom. Since then the two towns Aberfan and Lara Lake have been inextricably linked. It never fails to amaze me the spirit of human beings to support others in times of disaster....
My children proudly wore their school uniform with the Welsh dragon on.