Editor’s Note: I received this note in response to the story about the Aberfan landslide that ran in Wednesday’s newsletter. The gentleman comes from South Wales and was living near Aberfan when the tragedy occurred. I’d like to share his recollections and reflections with you.

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I still live in Wales, in a town called Briton Ferry, approximately 10-15 miles from the scene of the disaster. I was 9 years of age at the time, the same age as a lot of the children who were engulfed in the rolling slurry.

It was reported at the time that the children had just finished singing "All things Bright and Beautiful" when the slurry hit the school. It had already destroyed a little farm cottage on its way down the mountain, and along with the school it also destroyed 21 houses. 144 people died , 116 of them schoolchildren. Men were digging with their bare hands to get into the classroom to get to the children that they knew were in there. Once news of the tragedy spread, the roads to the village were blocked with willing volunteers all wanting to do something to help.

No one was prosecuted when the final report came out, and a paltry sum of £500 was paid in compensation for each child!

The funding raised went to finance a number of schemes to help with the regeneration of Aberfan, both physical and mental. Monies were donated to the bereaved, and the fund paid for the memorial, house repairs, holidays for villagers and a community hall.

After the NCB [editor’s note: NCB stands for the National Coal Board] and the Treasury refused to accept full financial responsibility. The coal tips were finally removed and this was to be paid for with £150, 000 from the subsequent memorial fund. It took until 1997 amongst much outrage to get this money repaid into the fund!

Now a four lane highway carries the A470 trunk road right through where the tip once stood!

The memorial cemetery contains the graves of about half of the victims of the disaster, in a columned monument on the hillside. The plaque at the entrance to the memorial garden is inscribed: "To those we love and miss so very much." It is a haunting place to visit.

One final thought. An Aberfan resident at the time was quoted as saying:

“In that silence you couldn't hear a bird or a child.”

If anyone would like to read people's memories from that sad and fateful day, please have a look at the link below. This just shows how much this tragedy affected and touched a lot of people's hearts.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southeast/sites/aberfan/pages/yourmemories.shtml

Martyn

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