Royal family and PM mark 60th anniversary of Aberfan disaster
Summarised from 3 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 21 Oct, 09:58 · Archive
The King, Queen and Prince of Wales will join Prime Minister Andy Burnham, politicians, survivors and bereaved families to mark the 60th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster, which killed 116 children and 28 adults on October 21 1966.
On that day, 150,000 tonnes of coal waste slid down the hillside and engulfed Pantglas Junior School. The disaster followed days of heavy rain, when excavated mining debris from the Merthyr Vale Colliery became dislodged and came down the mountainside. The waste material had been piled high on the side of Mynydd Merthyr, above Aberfan, for years, despite numerous underground springs below. When 1.5 million cubic feet of liquefied slurry crashed into the school and nearby houses, about half the children from the junior school died. The tragedy occurred on the last day before half-term.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has already travelled to Aberfan to meet survivors and bereaved families. He visited Aberfan cemetery to see the monuments dedicated to those who died and laid a floral wreath with a card saying: 'We will forever hold the memory of Aberfan and its children in our hearts.' He met Jeff Edwards, who was the last survivor to be rescued from the school wreckage, and Mair Morgan, the last surviving teacher from the school.
The King, Queen and Prince of Wales will visit the Aberfan Memorial Garden, located on the site of the former junior school, and the nearby Aberfan and Merthyr Vale Community Centre. A short prayer and moment of silence will be held, during which the King and Prince of Wales will lay wreaths and the Queen will place a posy.
At the community centre, the royal party will meet retired members of the emergency services who helped in the hours and days after the disaster, as well as survivors, bereaved parents and siblings of those who died.
How it is being reported
- Royal family joins families and survivors to mark 60th anniversary of AberfanThe King, Queen and Prince of Wales will join politicians, survivors and bereaved families in remembering the 116 children and 28 adults killed in the Aberfan disaster as people come together to mark the 60th anniversary.North Wales Pioneer · 21 Oct, 09:37
- Royal family joins families and survivors to mark 60th anniversary of AberfanThe King, Queen and Prince of Wales will join politicians, survivors and bereaved families in remembering the 116 children and 28 adults killed in the Aberfan disaster as people come together to mark the 60th anniversary.North Wales Chronicle · 21 Oct, 09:37
- Royals join families and survivors to mark 60th anniversary of Aberfan disasterThe King, Queen and Prince of Wales will join politicians, survivors and bereaved families in remembering the 116 children and 28 adults killed in the Aberfan disasterNorth Wales Live · 21 Oct, 08:28
- Andy Burnham meets Aberfan disaster victims ahead of 60th anniversaryThe Prime Minister spoke to survivors and families ahead of the anniversary of the 1966 disaster which killed 116 children and 28 adultsNorth Wales Live · 19 Oct, 15:04
In this story: Andy Burnham · King Charles · Queen Camilla · Prince of Wales · Aberfan · Pantglas Junior School · Merthyr Vale Colliery · Jeff Edwards
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