21/10/2016 BBC Wales Today


21/10/2016

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That's all from the BBC News at 6, so it's goodbye from me,

:00:00.:00:00.

It was among this country's darkest days - a generation wiped out,

:00:00.:00:12.

an unimaginable loss of life that changed this village forever.

:00:13.:00:25.

50 years on, the village and the nation come to a standstill

:00:26.:00:29.

116 children and 28 adults died when an avalanche of coal waste

:00:30.:00:39.

collapsed onto their school and nearby houses.

:00:40.:00:44.

Living a life with losing two siblings in our family

:00:45.:00:48.

But I think the community has shown that today, has come together,

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and we are still as strong 50 years on as what we were then.

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Among the last to be pulled out alive -

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this little boy shocked, bewildered, but safe.

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I didn't know what had happened to me.

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All I could hear was the shouts and screams of people

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Obviously, those got less and less as time went by.

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I tried to get out, but I couldn't move.

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But amid the grief and sorrow, a story of strength and resilience,

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of how Aberfan came together to face the future.

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Once Aberfan was much like any other village in these mining valleys -

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a village dominated by coal and the vast coal waste tips

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It was on this street, Moy Road, that Pantglas School stood.

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But on the 21st of October 1966, at 9:15 in the morning,

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one of the waste coal tips slid down the mountain,

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engulfing the school and a row of terraced houses.

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144 people lost their lives - most of them children.

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50 years on, a memorial garden and playground stand

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And today the people of Aberfan have been remembering those who died.

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And joining them in their silent reflection,

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Wales came to a standstill to remember that terrible morning.

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At 9:15am on the 21st of October 1966, Time stood still. Today,

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exactly 50 years and, Wales and the children of Aberfan fell silent to

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remember those who perished. 150,000 tonnes of coal slurry that

:03:09.:03:33.

down the mountain. In its path, homes and Pantglas School. Something

:03:34.:03:39.

like a jet came very low and was crashing. All I could see was a

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terrible black cloud. My neighbours said there was an explosion, and

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that Pantglas School had gone. I was 8.5. I was buried and rendered

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unconscious. When I was brought out initially, I was placed with the

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dead bodies, until someone thought they saw my foot move. But as myself

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there, that is my father. This is the day after the disaster, a

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Saturday morning. Gareth was one of the lucky ones. As a six-year old,

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he was able to climb out of a window. My teacher put a chair next

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to the window and we kind out. It was a matter of seconds. It was her

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quick thinking that saved our lives. Everyone nearby rushed to help.

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There were 50 people there, and they had their normal clothes on, with

:04:40.:04:46.

much all over. The miners came. When they came to me, it was like

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something from a John Wayne film, the cavalry while driving. The

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miners went in as part of the rescue team. They quickly realised there

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was no one to save. It was an adult, we issue a teacher, with her back to

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me, with their arms stretched out. That was awful. We were trying to

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protect from the slurry. Every so often, there is absolute quiet as

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the would-be rescuers and listen to see if anyone is alive underneath.

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When we were passing the dead children through, one man looked

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down, looked at me and said, that was my child. It was one of the

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worst things. He carried on working. You know, he passed his dead child

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along and he carried on working. I mean, that shows the strength of the

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people in Aberfan. Never in my life have I ever seen anything like this.

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50 years ago, news of the disaster spread across the world. Within

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days, the Queen came to Aber van, the first of four visits to the

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village. Today, the Prince of Wales joined villagers to lay a wreath.

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Aberfan showed the world the darkest sorrow, but also the most shining

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selflessness. 10-year old Mackenzie has a special interest in Aberfan.

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His grandmother, who is a dud the time, was amongst those rescued.

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Today, he showed Prince Charles this cool project he had been working on

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about his family's personal story. My grandmother was one of the last

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to be pulled out of the disaster. I am paying for she came out alive,

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otherwise I would not be here today. Coal-mining evicted the physical

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scars on the townscape of South Wales. With the demise of the

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industry, the light is Green and pleasant once more. But the deep

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emotional scars infected and this smoke amenity, who lost a whole

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generation, still have not healed half a century on. The people here

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want of the danger of water and tip another seven. They were ignored.

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The subsequent tribunal blamed the National coal board for ignorance

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and ineptitude. The tragedy of October 1966 changed Wales for ever

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and the country came together today to amend what happened, at two hope

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for a brighter future. Nick Palit on how

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the people of Aberfan Denise Morgan lost her sister in the

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school. What are your thoughts today, on this difficult day?

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It has been a difficult few months as we have led up to the 50th

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anniversary, really. But I think it is there to say that today has been

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a fine tribute to those who lost their lives, to the survivors and to

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those who helped us at that time to overcome the difficulties and to

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look for the children. It has been a fitting memorial. To have Prince

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Charles here as well has been wonderful, really. To see groups of

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people get together that possibly happen seen each other for 30 or 40

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years, it was laughter in the Hall this afternoon. I think that is a

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fine tribute to the drapery and richness of everyone. We have been

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surrounded by children playing in the playground here, it has been

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wonderful to hear them playing. I wonder if it becomes easier, 50

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years on? It has become easier. This anniversary has been particularly

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difficult in many ways, but also a lot easier in many ways because

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people have spoken for the first time, and this is help them overcome

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their grief over the years. There are many inability wanted to get now

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and move on. It is a difficult junction, isn't it? Do you move on?

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It is impossible to forget. It is impossible to forget but we must

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move on. What has happened today is evidence that people have moved on

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and will continue to do so. Thank you very much.

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Tonight, a memorial service is being held

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at St Mary's Church, a mile from here.

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You join me as people start to arrive for that service,

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after a day which has clearly been difficult for so many.

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Among them, Jeff Edwards, one of the last children

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He still lives just a short distance from where the school once stood.

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He's been speaking to me about how the experience has shaped his life.

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Today, Jeff Edwards still lives in Aberfan.

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because, in the darkness of the ruined school,

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This is where I lived at the time of the disaster.

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37 Aberfan Road, which is the main road that goes through Aberfan.

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And this was a bustling commercial area then,

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The morning of the disaster, I left this house here and walked

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down to the next big house that you see, and that was where

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the general practitioner lived, David Jones.

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and, every morning, we used to walk to school together.

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On that morning, it was no different.

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We walked to school, but Robert would not return.

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Every detail of that day is etched in his memory.

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The noise that we heard was a rumbling sound,

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and that noise got louder and louder.

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The teacher assured the children in the classroom

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that there was nothing to worry about, it was only thunder.

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was waking up with all this material above me.

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There were desks, and the roof had fallen down,

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and I survived because I was in a pocket of air.

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Above me, I could see the sky, actually.

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The roof had fallen in, and all the materials around me,

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there was a little gap at the top, which enabled me to see.

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That's where I think the rescuers, when they came in to the room,

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actually saw my white hair through that chink

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by the local greengrocer, Tom Harding.

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When I was rescued from the classroom itself,

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I was thrown out in a human chain, out into the yard.

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We were seen by medics there, and wrapped up in that blanket.

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Tom Harding actually carried me out of the school.

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In that photograph, there is an image of my mother

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You can see how worried her face is at this time.

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When you look at that now, what do you think?

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I think I was a very lucky lad, really.

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That really gave me the motivation to do things for the community.

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In the years that followed, growing up with his friends gone,

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he found it hard to speak to his family about the disaster.

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But, in the end, it was speaking publicly about his experience

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First, I think, you've got to come to terms with the problem

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Once you put that aside, I think the driver then

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is to do the best that you can with your life,

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because you were saved for a purpose.

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Effectively, that's been my motivation and drive, really,

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to make up for the lost lives that day.

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So despite building a successful career in London,

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As well as a cybercafe, he started an award-winning scheme

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to provide cars for unemployed people.

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And a dial-a-ride service for the elderly.

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When I came back and saw how badly affected the community had been,

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through the cars being stolen, through crime in the area,

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through young people just hanging around the streets,

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who would have traditionally gone into the mining industry -

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really, it was another lost generation

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The childcare he put in place is a particular source of pride.

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Helping the village move on has helped him move on.

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50 years later, he is clear how the world should think of Aberfan.

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I think they should think of a lively community

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that's come to terms with its past, that has a future,

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and one which looks for inspiration in its young people.

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I don't want them to remember Aberfan for the tragedy.

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I want it to be remembered as a community

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that has overcome tragedy, that has built a future.

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for anyone that's been involved in any tragedy.

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Jeff Edwards speaking to Caroline Evans.

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I'll be finding out how the younger generation here

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and how they are helping the village to move on.

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First, the rest of the day's news with Lucy.

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A former North Wales Police Superintendent has been convicted

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of four counts of historical sexual abuse against two boys.

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Gordon Anglesea, who's 79, indecently assaulted the teenagers

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when he was a police inspector in Wrexham in the early 1980s.

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From Mold Crown Court, Matthew Richards reports.

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Opting not to answer police questions about his big things,

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Gordon Anglesea remained defiant to the end. Do you know? I have nothing

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further to say. In the early 80s, he indecently

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assaulted a boy who had been brought to his house by John Allen. The

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predatory paedophile was jailed in 2014 after abusing boys at homes he

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ran. Gordon Anglesea ran the centre, and

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sexually assaulted his victim in the showers. Complains were investigated

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in 2002. The pressure were standards committee is looking at the handling

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of the case. Gordon Anglesey abuse a position of trust as a former North

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Wales police officer, all those years ago. That is sickening. The

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Crown Prosecution Service said he abused his power to prey on his

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victims and thank them for their bravery in coming forward. Gordon

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Anglesea left cold by a rear exit, avoiding the media. The judge told

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him the fight he was an granted bail was not an indication of a soft

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sentence. You said that the only one, that of imprisonment. His

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defence barrister acknowledged he would likely spend rest of his life

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behind bars. Gordon Anglesea sued several

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publications for the allegations in the 1990s. Ian Hislop says he takes

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a grim satisfaction in it. Private eye will not be be claiming the

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damages, saying others paid a far higher price.

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Securing a good deal for Wales after Brexit was part of the fight, route

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party conference today. Here is a little editor.

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In autumnal colours, there are few places as pretty as Klang Lough --

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as this. Plaid Cymru say that Brexit will not be pretty unless they

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secure a deal. They had this message for Theresa

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May. A voice saying, deliver and exit that works for Wales as well as

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it possibly can. Yes, Wales voted to leave, but I don't think Wales wants

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to dig a leave of its senses when it comes to our economic future.

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APPLAUSE The leader, Leanne Wood, has struck

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the party's biggest budget deal with chemical labour at the Assembly. On

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a question and answer session, the question whether it could lead to a

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future coalition came up. Given the criticism of the Labour government's

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record in Wales, it is incredible that they could -- is it credible

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that they could work together? Both parties work in the best interests

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of Wales. I will not rule out going into coalition with Labour. What is

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the feeling among delegates? Moving things forward for a better Wales.

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We did it before. Minority parties, or from coalitions, come off

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incredibly badly. So why make more problems? In the leader's words, the

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party is torn about whether to go into government with two labour. But

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Brexit is much easier. With agreement or out that member ship of

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the single market cannot be touched. A lot of talk about securing a deal

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for Wales Gretchen Mike Batt is right.

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The key point of the single market is it makes it more difficult to

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control immigration if that is the case. That puts bite, rape against

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Theresa May and carbon Jones, who says that the referendum result, if

:20:07.:20:11.

it is about anything, is sending a message that something needs to be

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done about immigration. Plaid Cymru are trying to change that narrative,

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saying it is not just about immigration, it was about austerity,

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it was about allsorts of things. The problem I have got is that so many

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people wanted to leave in Wales and they did so knowing that it would

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entail leaving the single market as well. Plaid Cymru are insisting they

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are not in denial about that result in Wales, but there is an accusation

:20:37.:20:37.

that will come their way. Thank you. Sometimes it can be wet and stormy

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at this time of year, but there is more dry and settled weather to come

:20:51.:20:54.

over the weekend. Some sunshine, but also low cloud, mist and fog

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patches, with a chilly wind on Sunday. Dryden night, some breaks in

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the cloud, that will allow some mist and fog patches to form.

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Temperatures in rural spots dipping close to freezing and with a touch

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of frost. A chilly, cold so tomorrow morning. Grey and misty in places as

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well. Some fog patches, the odd spot of drizzle. Otherwise dry. During

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the morning, the mist and fog will left and clear gradually. Most

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places are then dry with sunny spells in the afternoon. The shower

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perhaps later in the far north-east. Top temperatures between nine and 13

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Celsius, with a light or moderate breeze. Tomorrow night, dry for with

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some show was about. Kelly spells, low cloud and best of fog patches.

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Parts of the West are staying clear with frost batches. One or two

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showers are possible in mid-North Wales and the marches. Sunniest in

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the south-west. It will be breezy and gusty easterly winds make it

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feel cold. The little rain on Monday, but the outlook is mostly

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dry. Let's return now

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to Jamie in Aberfan. They are still laying flowers here

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tonight in the garden behind me. the name Aberfan will always

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be synonymous with tragedy. But what effect does that have

:22:21.:22:23.

on those born and brought up here? Marjorie Collins

:22:24.:22:27.

lost one of her boys that day, and her grandson, Iwan England,

:22:28.:22:30.

has made a documentary I suppose the most remarkable thing,

:22:31.:22:33.

looking back, is that the disaster didn't affect my childhood

:22:34.:22:53.

in any way whatsoever. I was aware of it,

:22:54.:22:56.

I was aware of the history and of the effect

:22:57.:22:59.

that it had on individuals. But it's a testament to them

:23:00.:23:05.

and to the wider community that it had so little material

:23:06.:23:08.

effect or impact. Whilst I was aware of what had

:23:09.:23:14.

happened, it was perfectly normal for me as a small child

:23:15.:23:17.

to play in the memorial garden, for instance,

:23:18.:23:20.

in the playground next door. The community had made

:23:21.:23:23.

a gargantuan effort to move on, to heal the wounds, and therefore it

:23:24.:23:29.

wasn't front and centre You know, the fact that our family

:23:30.:23:34.

were bereaved wasn't remarkable for a village like Aberfan,

:23:35.:23:43.

because so many others were. And that was just a normal part

:23:44.:23:46.

of the background As I was growing up,

:23:47.:23:49.

I slowly became aware of how this

:23:50.:23:57.

had affected so many other people. you go into their front rooms,

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and there is a painting of a child You notice surnames in the graveyard

:24:03.:24:05.

of people you know, and didn't realise

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they'd lost children. As bereaved parents,

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we had to be strong. that I only had the one child

:24:15.:24:17.

left then, Iwan's father. I only wish that he had

:24:18.:24:31.

a brother or a sister now. I think the one thing that people

:24:32.:24:37.

from outside don't appreciate is the immense work that was done

:24:38.:24:47.

by community leaders and by people who moved to the village

:24:48.:24:52.

to help out the community, especially in the late '60s

:24:53.:24:55.

and early '70s. I really hope that those people

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who rolled up their sleeves when, most probably,

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they were suffering greatly, that they vary realise

:25:03.:25:06.

that the generations who came after, benefited immensely

:25:07.:25:11.

from their efforts. They all did whatever they could

:25:12.:25:16.

to bring us back to normal. There's still lots of things that

:25:17.:25:21.

have got to be done. The site where the pit

:25:22.:25:26.

was is still waiting to be developed I think Aberfan will be

:25:27.:25:29.

a very nice place to live. but in some ways

:25:30.:25:36.

they do want to move on. Amidst the immense grief,

:25:37.:25:48.

they've found a strength and a sense of community

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that has seem them through - that has allowed them

:25:52.:25:54.

to look to the future. It's been a day of public grief,

:25:55.:25:58.

of national grief, but nobody apart

:25:59.:26:02.

from the people of Aberfan can ever truly understand the pain

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and the magnitude We leave you tonight with an extract

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from the poet Gwyn Thomas - A nation's heart can never be

:26:09.:26:25.

totally broken. There are always some through distance or

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indifference whose hearts will never be wounded. The nation's heart is

:26:35.:26:42.

Aberfan. Everyone must have responded to the anguish of that

:26:43.:26:49.

village. It is not possible for us to measure precisely and our own

:26:50.:26:53.

selves and our own flesh the impact of this outrageous misfortune. The

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Brive do not weep into a night of their own. The fact the faces, the

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silence of those perished children will be present in the minds of

:27:03.:27:06.

people in all the towns and villages of Britain as they bow their heads

:27:07.:27:10.

in shared sorrow on the chosen day of compassion.

:27:11.:27:33.

No one should have borne the losses you suffered. But no one would have

:27:34.:27:55.

borne them with such strength. We shall be laying at least the

:27:56.:28:00.

beginning of a flower on a stricken minds and bodies of Aberfan.

:28:01.:28:07.

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