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Aberfan witness: ‘my dad was crying in the rain’

On this morning’s Your Call, we asked callers to share their memories of the Aberfan disaster.

Today marks 50 years since the colliery spoil slip collapsed onto the Pantglas Junior School and neighbouring houses, killing 116 children and 28 adults.

Barbara in Weston Super Mare spoke to Jeff in Mountain Ash; both had lived nearby at the time of the tragedy and both of their fathers went to help with the search and rescue.

Barbara said the miners “came back black as coal, but they couldn’t do anything”.

She witnessed her father “crying in the rain” after attempting to save the children.

Jeff spoke about his father returning home after joining the rescue attempt.

“I just remember him coming home that evening and there was silence in the house,” he told us.

This clip is originally from 5 live Breakfast on Friday 21 October 2016.

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4 minutes

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