There is now a green space in the middle of Aberfan, where a Memorial Garden now stands, which is all that remains of Pantglas Junior School, the building at the centre of a disaster that overwhelmed Aberfan, & shocked the World nearly 50 years ago.
At 9.15 am on Friday 21st October 1966, a 40 feet high tidal wave of coal slurry slid down the mountain above Aberfan, crashing into the Pantglas Junior School, killing 116 children and 28 adults.
How the people of this small Welsh village, including friends relatives & parents coped with disaster we will never know, but the people of the World united to help support them.
Aberfan a song about the tragedy of the Aberfan Disaster;
•Musician - singer-songwriter David Ackles (1937-1999)
•Name of Song - Aberfan
•Relevant Verse - Title & whole song, at end of each verse.
•Location website - (
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Aberfan is track 8, on the Five & Dime Album;
Five and Dime (1973)
1. Everybody Has a Story
2. I've Been Loved
3. Jenna Saves
4. Surf's Down
5. Berry Tree
6. One Good Woman's Man
7. Run Pony Run
8. Aberfan
9. House Above the Strand
10. Photograph of You
11. Such a Woman
12. Postcards
Aberfan;
"It was rainy in the morning as the men left for the mine,
Past the schoolyard in the morning.
At the colliery production charts read, 'Men, we're doing fine,'
As the rain fell in the morning.
The coal board said you're number seven tip will stay in line,
It's been two years this morning.
But no one told the children of Aberfan.
One hundred and sixteen caps and shawls
Danced the halls of the school-house,
While the grown-up inspectors drank their tea
In the safe, dry lee of the tool-house.
As the rain fell in the morning on Aberfan.
Did no one hear the stones move when the tip began to fall?
Did no one feel the slag shake? Was no one there at all?
They were on the phone for Swansea taking orders for more,
They were going about their business, minding the store,
And five minutes later, they were asking, 'What for?'
The call for silence hushed the crowd,
Who searched the clouds for answers.
While they listened for life and held their breath,
The sound of death held the dancers.
As the rain fell in the morning on Aberfan.
But no one told the children, but no one told the children.
And it's always the children." text Source; (
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