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| Aberfan disaster: 50th anniversary marked with silence | Aberfan disaster: 50th anniversary marked with silence |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Wales has fallen silent as the country remembered the Aberfan disaster 50 years ago. | Wales has fallen silent as the country remembered the Aberfan disaster 50 years ago. |
| On 21 October 1966, a mountain of coal waste slid down into a school and houses in the Welsh village, killing 144 people, including 116 children. | On 21 October 1966, a mountain of coal waste slid down into a school and houses in the Welsh village, killing 144 people, including 116 children. |
| A day of events to commemorate the disaster included a service at Aberfan Cemetery at 09:15 BST on Friday. | A day of events to commemorate the disaster included a service at Aberfan Cemetery at 09:15 BST on Friday. |
| Prince Charles is visiting Aberfan memorial garden before unveiling a plaque in memory of the victims. | Prince Charles is visiting Aberfan memorial garden before unveiling a plaque in memory of the victims. |
| He will also attend a reception with the families of some of those who lost their lives, before signing a book of remembrance. | He will also attend a reception with the families of some of those who lost their lives, before signing a book of remembrance. |
| First Minister Carwyn Jones had called on the people of Wales to pause for the minute's silence. | First Minister Carwyn Jones had called on the people of Wales to pause for the minute's silence. |
| Prime Minister Theresa May agreed the nation should mark the occasion and remember those who died, when she led tributes in the Commons this week. | Prime Minister Theresa May agreed the nation should mark the occasion and remember those who died, when she led tributes in the Commons this week. |
| Silences were held at all Welsh Government offices, Westgate Square in Newport, Ffos-y-Fran open cast site in Merthyr Tydfil, and the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, among other places. | Silences were held at all Welsh Government offices, Westgate Square in Newport, Ffos-y-Fran open cast site in Merthyr Tydfil, and the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, among other places. |
| Rob Williams of NAHT Cymru, the school leaders' union for Wales, said: "As a country, and as school leaders, we must always remember." | Rob Williams of NAHT Cymru, the school leaders' union for Wales, said: "As a country, and as school leaders, we must always remember." |
| It was at 09:15, five decades ago, that the tip gave way and thousands of tonnes of liquefied slurry slid down into Pantglas Junior School and nearby homes. | It was at 09:15, five decades ago, that the tip gave way and thousands of tonnes of liquefied slurry slid down into Pantglas Junior School and nearby homes. |
| Mike Flynn, from Cardiff, said his father Michael had been a paramedic in the Territorial Army and went to Aberfan to help in the rescue when he saw it on the news. | Mike Flynn, from Cardiff, said his father Michael had been a paramedic in the Territorial Army and went to Aberfan to help in the rescue when he saw it on the news. |
| He dug up a clock and gave it to the police for use in the inquiry but they gave it back to him when the inquiry was over, with it later passed to Mr Flynn. | |
| He said: "The last time it ticked was in Aberfan when they were all still alive. It stopped at the time 144 people stopped with it. I felt it should be here in Aberfan today." | He said: "The last time it ticked was in Aberfan when they were all still alive. It stopped at the time 144 people stopped with it. I felt it should be here in Aberfan today." |
| Gerald Kirwaun was eight years old at the time of the disaster, and was at the school. | Gerald Kirwaun was eight years old at the time of the disaster, and was at the school. |
| "I think Aberfan should never be forgotten. I don't think it ever will," he said. | "I think Aberfan should never be forgotten. I don't think it ever will," he said. |
| "It's nice for the children of the future to know exactly what went on that day and what happened to us." | "It's nice for the children of the future to know exactly what went on that day and what happened to us." |
| Cynon Valley MP Ann Clwyd, a trainee reporter at the time, recalled how she had headed to Aberfan on the day when she heard the news. | Cynon Valley MP Ann Clwyd, a trainee reporter at the time, recalled how she had headed to Aberfan on the day when she heard the news. |
| "Everybody was too shocked to speak," she said. | "Everybody was too shocked to speak," she said. |
| Simone Roden, headteacher at Ynysowen Community Primary School, where a minute's silence took place, said: "These children are the future generation of Aberfan. | Simone Roden, headteacher at Ynysowen Community Primary School, where a minute's silence took place, said: "These children are the future generation of Aberfan. |
| "The children know about what happened a little bit. To remember and commemorate this year they've been involved in choir events at the Millennium Centre and Senedd singing for assembly members." | "The children know about what happened a little bit. To remember and commemorate this year they've been involved in choir events at the Millennium Centre and Senedd singing for assembly members." |
| The first minister said the disaster was "one of the darkest days in modern Welsh history". | The first minister said the disaster was "one of the darkest days in modern Welsh history". |
| "Remembrance is important so future generations understand what happened in Aberfan," he said. | "Remembrance is important so future generations understand what happened in Aberfan," he said. |
| "It is a truly heart-breaking moment in our history and no-one who learns about the disaster can fail to be profoundly moved by it." | "It is a truly heart-breaking moment in our history and no-one who learns about the disaster can fail to be profoundly moved by it." |
| The memorial service at the cemetery was led by Father Mark Prevett, with the official laying of wreaths. | The memorial service at the cemetery was led by Father Mark Prevett, with the official laying of wreaths. |
| Politicians including the first minister and Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns were among those laying wreaths, as well as members of the emergency services. | Politicians including the first minister and Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns were among those laying wreaths, as well as members of the emergency services. |
| A service of remembrance was also held at St Margaret's Church, in Mountain Ash at 09:00. | A service of remembrance was also held at St Margaret's Church, in Mountain Ash at 09:00. |
| This service, open to all, was organised by Rhondda Cynon Taf council because of the area's strong links with the community of nearby Aberfan. | This service, open to all, was organised by Rhondda Cynon Taf council because of the area's strong links with the community of nearby Aberfan. |
| Coal miners from Mountain Ash and surrounding areas played a vital role during the rescue operation, many being called from their shifts underground to help. | Coal miners from Mountain Ash and surrounding areas played a vital role during the rescue operation, many being called from their shifts underground to help. |
| A quarter-peal - 45 minutes of bell ringing - rang out at St Tydfil's Church, in Merthyr Tydfil after the minute's silence. The ringers were selected to be the same age as the children who died would have been today. | A quarter-peal - 45 minutes of bell ringing - rang out at St Tydfil's Church, in Merthyr Tydfil after the minute's silence. The ringers were selected to be the same age as the children who died would have been today. |
| The National Assembly is flying its flags at half mast as a mark of respect to the victims, and a book of condolence has been opened in the Senedd. | The National Assembly is flying its flags at half mast as a mark of respect to the victims, and a book of condolence has been opened in the Senedd. |
| Further books of condolence will be available for members of the public to sign in Aberfan Library, Merthyr council's civic centre and Cyfarthfa Castle Museum. | Further books of condolence will be available for members of the public to sign in Aberfan Library, Merthyr council's civic centre and Cyfarthfa Castle Museum. |
| St David's Church in Merthyr, will be open until 16:00 for people to pray or have time for quiet reflection. | St David's Church in Merthyr, will be open until 16:00 for people to pray or have time for quiet reflection. |
| At 19:00 there will be a service at St Mary and the Holy Innocents Church in Nixonville, Merthyr Vale, at which the Rev Irving Penberthy, the Methodist minister covering Aberfan at the time, will preach. | At 19:00 there will be a service at St Mary and the Holy Innocents Church in Nixonville, Merthyr Vale, at which the Rev Irving Penberthy, the Methodist minister covering Aberfan at the time, will preach. |
| The Assistant Bishop of Llandaff, David Wilbourne, who will address the congregation, said: "This is a time for us to come together as a community, sharing grief which is still so sore, despite the passage of time, and giving thanks for the lives of every one of those who died in the disaster." | The Assistant Bishop of Llandaff, David Wilbourne, who will address the congregation, said: "This is a time for us to come together as a community, sharing grief which is still so sore, despite the passage of time, and giving thanks for the lives of every one of those who died in the disaster." |