ABERFAN 116 children and 28 adults - 21 October 1966 - 'The report placed the blame squarely on the NCB. The organisation's chairman, Lord Robens, was criticised for making misleading statements and for not providing clarity as to the NCB's knowledge of the presence of water springs on the hillside. Neither the NCB nor any of its employees were prosecuted and the organisation was not fined.' The Aberfan Disaster Memorial Fund (ADMF) was established on the day of the disaster. It received nearly 88,000 contributions, totalling £1.75 million. The remaining tips were removed only after a lengthy fight by Aberfan residents against resistance from the NCB and the government on the grounds of cost. The site's clearance was paid for by a government grant and a forced contribution of £150,000 taken from the memorial fund. In 1997 the British government paid back the £150,000 to the AD
I went to the scene and the rememberance garden a few years ago; very moving, especially as I was a similar age as those kids at the time of the incident.
Same here, it never leaves me the terrible scenes etched into my thoughts. Everyone in my family in tears watching the TV.
I was brought up in Merthyr - 5 miles from Aberfan - each year at the end of October would attend the Aberfan Disaster Remembrance Service. Karl Jenkins composed 'Cantata Memoria - for the Children' - stunning piece of music - on You Tube.
I remember as if yesterday the outpouring of grief in my own village on that day. I can't imagine the devastating effect it had on those in Aberfan. Without undervaluing the one mentioned, because of how it occurred and those unfortunately involved. The biggest mining disaster in the uk also happened in wales. Rarely if ever gets mentioned. The Senghenydd colliery disaster, also known as the Senghenydd explosion (Welsh: Tanchwa Senghennydd), occurred at the Universal Colliery in Senghenydd, near Caerphilly, Glamorgan, Wales, on 14 October 1913. The explosion, which killed 439 miners (men and boys) and a rescuer, is the worst mining accident in the United Kingdom.
SENGHENYDD 439 miners killed - 200 women widowed - 542 children fatherless. see Welsh National Coal Mining Memorial #9