The Prince of Wales made an emotional visit to Ynysowen Community Primary School, where he unveiled the Aberfan Memorial Tree, a new sculpture commemorating the 60th anniversary of the disaster.
60 years ago, miners who were once digging for coal were digging their children from slurry after a coal tip collapsed onto the nearby village. Decades later, with wounds still as raw as they were years ago, the Royal Family made a poignant visit to remember the victims and speak with those who survived and were part of the relief efforts.
On Friday 21st October 1966, 144 people were killed when the coal tips from Merthyr Vale Colliery slipped down a mountainside and buried Pantglas School, twenty houses and a farm in the village of Aberfan. Of the 144 people killed, 116 were children, most of them between the ages of seven and ten. About half of the children from Pantglas School lost their lives, along with five of their teachers.
It was the last day of school before the half-term break.
The collapse was investigated, and it was later determined that it was caused by a build-up of water in a stream running underneath the tip itself.
After the disaster and the loss of almost an entire generation, Ynysowen Community Primary School was established, with the school and pupils carrying forward Pantglas Junior School’s legacy. Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by Prince Philip, officially opened the primary school in April 2012 as part of the Diamond Jubilee.
The late Queen visited Aberfan shortly after the disaster had taken place, and numerous times after during her 70-year reign.
On Wednesday, Prince William listened to students as they explained a project based on resilience before heading outside to the forecourt for a deeply meaningful memorial. The Prince unveiled the Aberfan Memorial Tree, which is a new sculpture created to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the disaster.
Picture by Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace
The Memorial Tree will provide a permanent place for pupils, families and visitors to remember the 144 victims and to reflect on the lasting impact of the tragedy. ArtMetal, a family-run metalwork company based in Rhayader, Powys, designed and created the memorial.
The concept was developed by the school’s Headteacher, Simone Roden, and Jeff Edwards, Vice Chair of Governors at Ynysowen Community Primary School, who was the last child rescued from the rubble following the 1966 disaster.
During the early planning stages, pupils were invited to share drawings & ideas for the memorial, helping to shape the vision. Per Wales Online, the silver represents children, the gold leaf represents teachers, & the green represents civilians who were all killed 60 years ago.
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