On October 21st 1966, 50 years ago this Friday, the village of Aberfan was changed forever.
A coal spoil-tip fell on the school.
Over
1 million cubic feet of industrial waste fell on the village, killing 116 children, and 28 adults.
We remember, and I give my small tribute here:
Aberfan
The heart was hollowed from the land
You left the guts to choke us.
A mountain fell on innocent heads.
You faced no prosecution.
Our children meant nothing to you.
Just a poor man's son, a poor man's daughter.
Our children were killed
By a black heart -
A company, an industry,
which cared more for profit than people.
You murdered them with your neglect.
When we screamed 'Murderers!'
you told us we didn't understand
Inferred we should defer to our betters.
Westminster ignored our anger and our pain.
You expected us to bow our heads,
Mumble 'yessir, nosir, threebagsfullsir,'
and creep away.
A father, speaking for a nation, speaking for a people, speaking for his child
Insisted on the truth.
Died of asphyxia and multiple injuries?
You buried our children alive.
You took the heart from the mountains,
Left the guts to rot on a hillside.
And buried our children alive.
And we remember.
Wales will always remember.
You murdered
the children
of Aberfan.