Aberfan: Last surviving teacher remembers faces of the children who died

Aberfan: Last surviving teacher remembers faces of the children who died

The text you’ve shared is an excerpt from a BBC article recounting the Aberfan disaster, written by Huw Thomas, BBC Wales correspondent. It centers on the experiences of Mair Morgan, a teacher at Pantglas Junior School during the tragedy on 21 October 1966, when a colliery spoil tip collapsed, engulfing the school and nearby houses, resulting in the deaths of 116 children and 28 adults.

**Key points from the excerpt:**

– Mair Morgan, now 84, was a teacher at Pantglas Junior School and recalls the disaster vividly.
– On the morning of 21 October 1966, a large colliery tip became unstable due to water build-up and slid down the hill at 9:15 am.
– The tip crushed the school and houses, with horrific consequences.
– Mair’s classroom was in a separate building, and she was able to evacuate her pupils to safety.
– However, many families suffered tragic losses, including some of Mair’s students.
– The scale of the disaster became apparent as five of the school’s teachers died, with only four staff surviving.
– Teachers, including Mair, were asked to identify deceased children before they were cleaned up or their relatives informed, a task Mair found deeply distressing.
– Despite the anguish, Mair and other surviving teachers offered comfort and support to the bereaved community in the aftermath.

If you would like, I can provide a summary, help with specific details, or offer more context about the Aberfan disaster and its aftermath. Let me know how I can assist!

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More