Aberfan Survivor Meets 10-Year-Old Great-Grandson of Rescuer as Schools Mark 60 Years Since 116 Children Died
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 6
Aberfan Survivor Meets 10-Year-Old Great-Grandson of Rescuer as Schools Mark 60 Years Since 116 Children Died
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 6
Summary
Gareth Jones was stunned during a school talk when 10-year-old Noah showed him a photo of Stephen Andrew — the caretaker Jones says pulled him through a shattered window in the 1966 Aberfan disaster.
Andrew rushed back to Pantglas Junior School as colliery waste engulfed it, saving children including Jones, but his own sons Kelvin and Malcolm were among the 116 children killed; 28 adults also died.
The meeting came as Welsh schools prepare to mark 60 years since the disaster on 21 October, with Jones telling pupils how his close group of 10 friends shrank to three or four.
Nearly 100 pupils at a middle school in New Hampshire also heard survivor Gaynor Madgwick describe the collapse, her later PTSD diagnosis and why children should not suffer in silence.
With £230 million now spent on Welsh coal tips, is another Aberfan truly impossible today?
How did the man blamed for Aberfan's failures go on to revolutionize British workplace safety?
The Aberfan Disaster at 60: Commemoration, Reform, and the Power of Memory
Overview
As the 60th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster approaches in 2026, a variety of commemorative initiatives are taking place. These efforts, including the launch of a special tribute pin badge by the Welsh jewellery brand Clogau, reflect both traditional remembrance and new educational approaches. The initiative, suggested by local staff and inspired by previous successful charity campaigns, aims to honor the victims, support the community, and ensure that the lessons of the tragedy continue to reach new generations. Together, these activities highlight the community’s ongoing commitment to remembrance and learning from the past.