If you were to ask anyone in the United Kingdom what momentus event occurred in 1966 they would answer, almost without exception, that it was the year that the England football team beat Germany to win the World Cup.
My recollection of 1966 is very different.
On the 21st. of October 1966 in the small Welsh mining village of Aberfan, Pantglas Junior School was engulfed by a slide of mud and coal slag. One hundred and forty four souls lost their lives, including one hundred and sixteen children:
The sky was grey and sullen
Shrapnel rain struck window pane.
Inside sat fresh scrubbed faces
Pink with expectation.
Hair, filled with mischief
Notes passed, with surreptition.
teachers with vocation
Intent on revelation.
Unearthly sounds reverberated
Silent breaths were held.
Death's hounds were near, and convocated
Close upon this ground.
Suddenly, the valley, silent
Not a sound was heard,
We looked in shock, in total awe,
Could God be this absurd?
We tried with bloodied fingers
But to no avail,
The filth that took these poor young souls
Had handed us no trail.
So, where were you upon this day?
And where was our good Lord?
That these sweet souls should meet their end
Could this be his accord?
So this I ask each one of you,
I ask it too of me,
Is each soul that died that day,
Nearer God to thee????
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Owain Glyn
