0:00:00 > 0:00:00- *
0:00:00 > 0:00:03- 50 years ago, - a disaster happened in Aberfan...
0:00:03 > 0:00:07- ..which brought this small - village to the world's attention.
0:00:07 > 0:00:10- Welcome to - Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol.
0:00:12 > 0:00:16- # Soli Deo gloria
0:00:16 > 0:00:21- # Soli Deo gloria
0:00:24 > 0:00:29- # Soli Deo gloria #
0:00:50 > 0:00:52- It took a mere five minutes...
0:00:53 > 0:00:56- ..to change - the entire village of Aberfan.
0:00:56 > 0:01:01- In five minutes, a colliery spoil - tip collapsed and slid downhill...
0:01:01 > 0:01:04- ..destroying everything in its path.
0:01:04 > 0:01:08- In five minutes, the lives - of Aberfan's residents...
0:01:08 > 0:01:10- ..were destroyed forever.
0:01:12 > 0:01:16- The pupils of Pantglas Junior School - had only just arrived...
0:01:16 > 0:01:21- ..for their final day - before the half-term holiday...
0:01:21 > 0:01:25- ..when the fatal black wave - crashed into their classrooms.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30- 144 lost their lives that morning...
0:01:31 > 0:01:33- ..116 of whom were children.
0:01:37 > 0:01:41- In 1966, a memorial service - was held for the victims...
0:01:41 > 0:01:44- ..at Soar Chapel, Merthyr Tydfil.
0:01:44 > 0:01:46- It's fitting that the pupils...
0:01:46 > 0:01:51- ..of the Welsh-medium schools in the - Aberfan area have joined together...
0:01:51 > 0:01:55- ..to pay their respects - 50 years after the disaster.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58- Martyn Geraint leads the singing.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01- We begin with O Dduw Bendithia.
0:04:24 > 0:04:26- The Cilfan y Coed solo...
0:04:26 > 0:04:30- ..describes a refuge - to which one can retreat...
0:04:30 > 0:04:32- ..and take shelter in a storm.
0:04:32 > 0:04:37- Aled Lloyd Davies wrote the words - and Rhys Jones composed the melody.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40- Here to perform it - is Steffan Rhys Hughes.
0:04:59 > 0:05:07- # The glade in the wood
0:05:08 > 0:05:14- # If only I could only flee
0:05:15 > 0:05:21- # From the bustle of life
0:05:22 > 0:05:28- # I could return there
0:05:29 > 0:05:35- # To the glade in the wood
0:05:36 > 0:05:43- # Morning or night
0:05:43 > 0:05:50- # There I find perfect peace
0:05:51 > 0:05:58- # Total tranquillity
0:06:13 > 0:06:19- # When the tempest roars
0:06:19 > 0:06:24- # It is my sanctuary
0:06:24 > 0:06:29- # When the storms of life strike me
0:06:29 > 0:06:33- # It will be my refuge
0:06:35 > 0:06:38- # Crosswinds might torment me
0:06:39 > 0:06:44- # But there I shall be free
0:06:45 > 0:06:50- # It is a balm to my soul
0:06:51 > 0:06:59- # Between the trees' branches
0:07:01 > 0:07:08- # The glade in the wood
0:07:10 > 0:07:16- # If only I could flee
0:07:18 > 0:07:22- # From the bustle of life
0:07:23 > 0:07:29- # I could go there
0:07:30 > 0:07:36- # To the glade in the wood
0:07:37 > 0:07:42- # Morning or night
0:07:43 > 0:07:49- # I shall go to that magic glade
0:07:49 > 0:07:55- # No matter who knows
0:07:56 > 0:08:05- # That enchanted place
0:08:08 > 0:08:19- # The glade in the wood #
0:08:27 > 0:08:32- "There's an ancient legend told - about Hamelin town
0:08:32 > 0:08:36- "A mysterious piper visited - in a brightly-coloured gown
0:08:37 > 0:08:40- "The children were enchanted - by the tune the piper played
0:08:41 > 0:08:45- "They followed him up a mountain - where he locked them all inside
0:08:46 > 0:08:49- "Hamelin's homes were silent
0:08:49 > 0:08:52- "Parents grieved - and cried in melancholy
0:08:52 > 0:08:56- "Mourning every day and night
0:08:57 > 0:09:01- "No smiles, no carefree laughter - of happy children in play
0:09:02 > 0:09:04- "Favourite toys lie still
0:09:04 > 0:09:08- "No footsteps heard running away
0:09:08 > 0:09:13- "A tragic tale of a generation lost, - the sweet, innocent children
0:09:13 > 0:09:15- # Of Hamelin long ago
0:09:15 > 0:09:19- # Today lie in Aberfan #
0:13:17 > 0:13:21- Everybody remembers - exactly where they were...
0:13:21 > 0:13:24- ..on the day - of the Aberfan disaster.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27- Joining me now is - the singer-songwriter Delwyn Sion.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31- You were at school six miles - away from here, weren't you?
0:13:31 > 0:13:35- Yes, I was up the road - in Ysgol Gyfun Rhydfelen.
0:13:35 > 0:13:39- An awards ceremony - was taking place at school that day.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41- The service was held in the hall.
0:13:42 > 0:13:47- One of the teachers at the back - rushed to the front of the hall...
0:13:47 > 0:13:50- ..and whispered - in the headmaster's ear.
0:13:50 > 0:13:55- Gwilym Humphreys announced that - something had happened nearby...
0:13:55 > 0:14:00- ..and children in the area - were being sent home from school.
0:14:00 > 0:14:04- Nobody was sure - exactly what had happened.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07- The guest speaker said, - "Let's sing a hymn."
0:14:07 > 0:14:11- He asked us to sing - Rhagluniaeth Fawr Y Nef...
0:14:11 > 0:14:14- ..and the whole school - sung it full pelt.
0:14:14 > 0:14:18- Throughout the day we were given - snippets of information.
0:14:18 > 0:14:22- On our way home that afternoon, - as we passed Fiddlers Elbow...
0:14:22 > 0:14:25- ..it was obvious - something was going on up here.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28- When we got home, - we saw pictures on TV...
0:14:29 > 0:14:32- ..and I felt guilty - for singing such a hymn...
0:14:33 > 0:14:35- ..after seeing images - of the children.
0:14:35 > 0:14:39- Even by the Friday night - the full picture hadn't emerged.
0:14:39 > 0:14:43- The following day I went to - the miners' eisteddfod in Aberdare.
0:14:43 > 0:14:47- More details - were reaching us as the day went on.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50- In the afternoon, - some of the miners came in...
0:14:50 > 0:14:55- ..asked the men to accompany them - over the mountain to this valley...
0:14:55 > 0:14:58- ..to help with the rescue effort...
0:14:58 > 0:15:01- ..and the search for the children.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04- That's when - the reality began to sink in.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07- You saw mothers - embracing their children...
0:15:08 > 0:15:11- ..feeling both relief and guilt - that they were safe.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14- Those memories - are still as vivid today.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18- You decided to write a song - about the experience.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22- 20 years later, - I was returning from North Wales...
0:15:22 > 0:15:24- ..and I gave two people a lift.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28- I told them about Aberfan - as we passed by on the top road.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31- It stayed in my mind...
0:15:31 > 0:15:35- ..and I came back up - to revisit the cemetery.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39- The song came about unintentionally.
0:15:39 > 0:15:44- I didn't want to feel like a voyeur, - using the tragedy for a song.
0:15:44 > 0:15:49- But as I walked around, memories - of that day came flooding back.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52- As I read - the inscriptions on the graves...
0:15:52 > 0:15:55- ..I heard - children's voices in the valley...
0:15:55 > 0:15:58- ..and that's what inspired the song.
0:15:58 > 0:16:02- Hearing them in the valley, - I felt a sense of rebirth.
0:16:02 > 0:16:04- There was a new generation.
0:16:04 > 0:16:09- I imagined hearing the men's - work boots marching up the valley...
0:16:10 > 0:16:13- ..from Senghennydd - and Point of Ayr...
0:16:13 > 0:16:17- ..and them embracing the children, - both past and present...
0:16:17 > 0:16:21- ..and saying, - "We have to move on from here."
0:16:21 > 0:16:26- Not forgetting what happened, not - forgetting the lost generation...
0:16:26 > 0:16:29- ..but on a day like today - and maybe tomorrow...
0:16:29 > 0:16:32- ..the sun - shines on Aberfan sometimes.
0:16:32 > 0:16:37- Children bring hope and rebirth - and life moves on.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39- The song is about that hope.
0:16:39 > 0:16:40- What's the title of the song?
0:16:40 > 0:16:42- What's the title of the song?- - Aberfan.
0:17:11 > 0:17:15- # Standing side by side
0:17:15 > 0:17:17- # Waiting
0:17:18 > 0:17:21- # Seeing the world
0:17:21 > 0:17:24- # Through the eyes of one day
0:17:25 > 0:17:27- # The innocent and wise
0:17:28 > 0:17:30- # The poor and young
0:17:31 > 0:17:34- # Blessed lives
0:17:34 > 0:17:36- # On the bare slopes
0:17:38 > 0:17:40- # Back
0:17:41 > 0:17:44- # I returned
0:17:44 > 0:17:49- # I still don't know why
0:17:51 > 0:17:53- # Back
0:17:54 > 0:17:57- # I returned
0:17:57 > 0:18:00- # It was still raining
0:18:01 > 0:18:05- # In Aberfan
0:18:20 > 0:18:22- # The tears of the day
0:18:23 > 0:18:26- # Fell on your cross
0:18:26 > 0:18:29- # Washing the earth
0:18:29 > 0:18:33- # From the sombre words
0:18:33 > 0:18:38- # Tears couldn't wash - the painful memories away
0:18:39 > 0:18:42- # I yearned for freedom
0:18:42 > 0:18:45- # And light
0:18:45 > 0:18:48- # Back
0:18:49 > 0:18:51- # I returned
0:18:51 > 0:18:56- # I still don't know why
0:18:58 > 0:19:01- # Back
0:19:01 > 0:19:04- # I returned
0:19:04 > 0:19:08- # It was still raining
0:19:08 > 0:19:13- # In Aberfan
0:19:40 > 0:19:43- # I can hear voices
0:19:43 > 0:19:45- # At the bottom of the valley
0:19:46 > 0:19:51- # Joyous voices on the bleak slopes
0:19:52 > 0:19:57- # Children's voices - calling everyone together
0:19:57 > 0:20:02- # Children's voices, - all the children of the world
0:20:02 > 0:20:04- # I can hear in the distance
0:20:04 > 0:20:06- # The sound of workers' boots
0:20:06 > 0:20:08- # Those who shared the scars
0:20:09 > 0:20:11- # In the coal and steel
0:20:12 > 0:20:16- # From Senghennydd to Point of Ayr
0:20:16 > 0:20:18- # Shouting tomorrow
0:20:18 > 0:20:22- # To the children and us
0:20:22 > 0:20:25- # Back
0:20:25 > 0:20:27- # I returned
0:20:27 > 0:20:32- # And now I know why
0:20:33 > 0:20:36- # Back
0:20:36 > 0:20:39- # I returned
0:20:39 > 0:20:43- # The sun will shine
0:20:43 > 0:20:51- # On Aberfan #
0:21:30 > 0:21:34- "They can no longer feel - the heat of the flame
0:21:35 > 0:21:40- "Without feeling the chill of - the cadavers in the Pantglas earth
0:21:41 > 0:21:44- "They no longer hear - the roar of the coal
0:21:44 > 0:21:46- "Without remembering the dram
0:21:46 > 0:21:50- "Which dragged - the killer slurry from the coalface
0:21:50 > 0:21:55- "Verdant flames conceal a generation
0:21:57 > 0:22:01- "They see the grass - growing over the tiny graves."
0:22:05 > 0:22:09- The words of Margaret Bowen Rees - bring our programme to an end.
0:22:09 > 0:22:14- The children will sing - Hedd Sy'n Llifo Fel Yr Afon.
0:22:15 > 0:22:19- Thank you for joining us - and goodbye from us all.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25- S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.
0:24:25 > 0:24:25- .