Wales squad deeply moved by Aberfan visit

The Wales rugby contingent were met by Iestyn Morgan, secretary of Ynysowen RFC, who was rescued from Pantglas Junior School following the tragedy by his teacher and the school caretaker. The group visited Ynysowen Community Primary School where they took part in question and answer sessions with the junior and infant children, visited Aberfan cemetery where many of the 144 victims of the disaster 50 years ago are buried, and joined members of Ynysowen RFC to lay a wreath in the Aberfan Memorial Garden.
 
Howley said, “It was an honour to come here today and pay our respects to Aberfan. When you look at the graves of so many people and young children, and see the devastation that the tragedy caused the families here and how the whole community here has lived with that over the past 50 years, it puts rugby, and everything else into perspective.
 
“We have all been moved by what we have seen and heard from survivors and families who were affected by what happened at 9.15 on October 21 1966, such as Iestyn, who explained things may have been very different for him if he’d been on the other side of the class or school.
 
“It was good to see the smiling faces of the children of today when they met the players this morning.”
 
Dan Biggar added, “It’s a pleasure for us to visit and show our respects today. It’s incredible to hear Iestyn’s story, and how he feels it was pot luck he’s here today. We can’t comprehend how difficult a time it was for the community, for children to lose their classmates and friends from the street.”
 
Ynysowen Community Primary head teacher Simone Roden said, “The children were thrilled to see the Wales players today. A lot of the emphasis this week has of course been on the Aberfan disaster which is a sad time but this visit has brought a lot of joy and happiness to the children and we’re thankful for that.”