0:00:08 > 0:00:1250 years ago, on October 21st, 1966,
0:00:12 > 0:00:17the eyes of the world turned to a tiny coal-mining village
0:00:17 > 0:00:18in South Wales.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20Disaster struck suddenly this morning
0:00:20 > 0:00:23at the small Welsh coal-mining village of Aberfan,
0:00:23 > 0:00:24near Merthyr Tydfil.
0:00:24 > 0:00:26Triggered by heavy rain,
0:00:26 > 0:00:31a fast-moving landslide of colliery waste engulfed a farm,
0:00:31 > 0:00:33a row of terraced houses,
0:00:33 > 0:00:35and classrooms here
0:00:35 > 0:00:37where Pantglas Junior School stood.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42It was the last day before half-term holidays.
0:00:46 > 0:00:52144 people died in the disaster. 116 of them were children.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57Never in my life have I ever seen anything like this.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02I hope that I shall never ever see anything like it again.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07'We hear from two people speaking for the first time
0:01:07 > 0:01:10'about the day that changed their lives.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13Confusion. Unbelievable.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16Everybody was standing around bewildered.
0:01:18 > 0:01:19And I joined them.
0:01:20 > 0:01:24# This is love, that Christ has died... #
0:01:24 > 0:01:27'And we've music and song from across Wales,
0:01:27 > 0:01:28'including the Aberfan Hymn,
0:01:28 > 0:01:31performed by the Treorchy Male Voice Choir.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52The mining villages of the Welsh valleys
0:01:52 > 0:01:54are close-knit communities,
0:01:54 > 0:01:58and that's been their strength through many tough times.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01But October 21st, 1966
0:02:01 > 0:02:03was a tragedy like no other.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12One of the church ministers of Aberfan,
0:02:12 > 0:02:14who lost his son that day,
0:02:14 > 0:02:18later spoke of his own enduring faith in God.
0:02:18 > 0:02:19"I am certain", he said,
0:02:19 > 0:02:23"that nothing can separate us from His love."
0:02:23 > 0:02:25And it is with this in mind that we begin today's programme
0:02:25 > 0:02:27with a hymn, Love Divine,
0:02:27 > 0:02:30set to sublime Welsh melody.
0:04:49 > 0:04:53Half a century ago, on the day of the Aberfan disaster,
0:04:53 > 0:04:56television cameras captured a community in shock.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03One of those interviewed just hours after the tragedy
0:05:03 > 0:05:05was Irving Penberthy.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08He was a minister here at the Zion Methodist Church.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11'What can a man in your position, a man of God,
0:05:11 > 0:05:13do in the face of a disaster like this?
0:05:13 > 0:05:15Well, I admit that I'm bewildered.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18I haven't taken it all in yet.
0:05:18 > 0:05:24All I can say is that I will be able to give comfort later on,
0:05:24 > 0:05:25because there is a storm of sorrow
0:05:25 > 0:05:27that is going to break on this village.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35A very close, friendly village, was Aberfan,
0:05:35 > 0:05:38and, when I went there, I felt at home right away.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43It had been raining all that week.
0:05:43 > 0:05:44Heavy rain.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49I remember setting out that morning.
0:05:49 > 0:05:53On the way, several emergency vehicles passed me.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55I didn't take much notice,
0:05:55 > 0:05:58because there were often accidents at the mines.
0:05:58 > 0:06:03And then...a thought came to me.
0:06:03 > 0:06:08"You must turn back. You must turn back."
0:06:08 > 0:06:11Looking back, as far as I'm concerned,
0:06:11 > 0:06:12it was the voice of God.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17Confusion.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19Unbelievable.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23There was scores of people like ants swarming around.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26Everyone had turned out to dig at this slurry,
0:06:26 > 0:06:30and I felt that I must stay with the people, as a minister,
0:06:30 > 0:06:32to talk with them,
0:06:32 > 0:06:34pray with them, and hold their hand.
0:06:34 > 0:06:36That's what I did.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38I think there is an air of resignation
0:06:38 > 0:06:40which is stealing over the village -
0:06:40 > 0:06:43an ominous quietness is descending.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46I've been able to go into quite a number of homes and pray there,
0:06:46 > 0:06:48and they've been glad of prayer.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51Mr Penberthy, I think that prayer is probably the only thing
0:06:51 > 0:06:53that any of us can rely upon this evening.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55Well, this is what everybody seems to say.
0:06:55 > 0:06:58- We're so helpless - we can't do anything but pray. - Thank you very much indeed, sir.
0:06:59 > 0:07:05It was my privilege to be at the chapel,
0:07:05 > 0:07:09where the little bodies were brought
0:07:09 > 0:07:13and washed by the dedicated staff in the vestry.
0:07:13 > 0:07:18This is something I have not spoken about for 50 years,
0:07:18 > 0:07:22because it stirs me so much.
0:07:22 > 0:07:26I went in with many of the fathers, one by one,
0:07:26 > 0:07:30where the little bodies were laid out on the pews,
0:07:30 > 0:07:33covered with a blanket.
0:07:33 > 0:07:37And we cried and cried and cried.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41It was no time for words.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45Words failed us.
0:07:45 > 0:07:50And, as grown men, we cried without shame.
0:07:52 > 0:07:54And I cry still.
0:07:55 > 0:07:56Without shame.
0:07:58 > 0:08:05I was privileged to go in with them in their darkest hour.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10And I couldn't have done it without the Hand of God on me.
0:08:10 > 0:08:11That I do know.
0:08:13 > 0:08:19A whole array of hearses collected the bodies
0:08:19 > 0:08:22and took them up to the cemetery.
0:08:24 > 0:08:29I remember that our singing was tremulant.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33And much deep breathing and gulping, yes.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36But we did our best for those...
0:08:36 > 0:08:38Those children.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35The tune of that beautiful hymn, Aberystwyth,
0:11:35 > 0:11:38was written by local lad Joseph Parry,
0:11:38 > 0:11:42who was born in nearby Merthyr Tydfil back in 1841.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44Many musicians have found
0:11:44 > 0:11:47their inspiration and passion for music through the church.
0:11:47 > 0:11:49I certainly did, and so did our next performer,
0:11:49 > 0:11:51as David Grant found out.
0:11:54 > 0:11:56Welcome to Pointless. This is the show where...
0:11:56 > 0:11:59'Alexander Armstrong has forged a career
0:11:59 > 0:12:01'as a prime-time quiz show host.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04'But he's also a chart-topping singer.'
0:12:04 > 0:12:09# Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
0:12:11 > 0:12:15# Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme... #
0:12:16 > 0:12:18Did you come late to singing?
0:12:18 > 0:12:20No, I came late to comedy!
0:12:20 > 0:12:22Singing, I did from the very beginning.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24Singing was what I've always done.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26I was a chorister when I was little.
0:12:26 > 0:12:27I have a theory about this.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29I think being a chorister
0:12:29 > 0:12:31is the best route into any kind of showbiz career.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33- Why is that?- I think...
0:12:33 > 0:12:36Because you learn, at a very early age, discipline.
0:12:36 > 0:12:38You learn punctuality.
0:12:38 > 0:12:39These are very...
0:12:39 > 0:12:42You might think they're fairly peripheral issues,
0:12:42 > 0:12:43but they are so important.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46You learn to carry a pencil at all times.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48These are things that you learn as a chorister.
0:12:48 > 0:12:52You will have learned the technique of performing,
0:12:52 > 0:12:54how to make your voice sound good, your diction...
0:12:54 > 0:12:56You'll have learned how to polish your shoes.
0:12:56 > 0:13:00I mean, so much that you learn there which is just invaluable
0:13:00 > 0:13:02in terms of your later career.
0:13:02 > 0:13:06So you spent years regularly singing hymns, psalms,
0:13:06 > 0:13:08songs of worship, songs of praise.
0:13:08 > 0:13:12- What effect did that have on you? - Well, I think it's a very...
0:13:12 > 0:13:14nourishing thing to be doing.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17When you leave your time as a chorister,
0:13:17 > 0:13:19I think you can't help but be familiar
0:13:19 > 0:13:22with a certain spirituality that you get to know.
0:13:22 > 0:13:23The service that you get,
0:13:23 > 0:13:26the litany that you become very, very familiar with,
0:13:26 > 0:13:29is the ancient Book of Common Prayer. Evensong.
0:13:29 > 0:13:34As a chorister, I learned a faith that is faintly impenetrable
0:13:34 > 0:13:38and a little bit mysterious and very ancient and ritualistic.
0:13:38 > 0:13:39I find that quite appealing.
0:13:39 > 0:13:43A lot of Evensongs will take place up and down the country
0:13:43 > 0:13:47in cathedrals, where you have this sort of lovely acoustic,
0:13:47 > 0:13:50and a sort of sense of peace and tranquillity within a building,
0:13:50 > 0:13:54and yet, ten yards out the west door,
0:13:54 > 0:13:57there's rush-hour traffic.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59So, to you, it represents an oasis of calm?
0:13:59 > 0:14:00It does, really,
0:14:00 > 0:14:03and I think that my faith is something
0:14:03 > 0:14:06that I root quite firmly in that, sort of, peace.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08Well, we've talked about singing...
0:14:08 > 0:14:09Now I'd really love to hear you sing.
0:14:09 > 0:14:14- What are you going to sing for us today? - Hymn Song by Peter Skellern.
0:14:14 > 0:14:18Peter Skellern... Just the most wonderful songwriter.
0:14:18 > 0:14:24He mixed sumptuous harmonies with a beautiful lyric,
0:14:24 > 0:14:26and wonderful textures,
0:14:26 > 0:14:29and this is a song that he's woven...
0:14:29 > 0:14:32He's woven into what is a secular song, really...
0:14:32 > 0:14:33Although, is it?
0:14:33 > 0:14:35I often wonder, as we get to the end.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37You might see what I mean.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41But he's woven "The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended" into that,
0:14:41 > 0:14:44and it's just... It's... I can't...
0:14:44 > 0:14:48I have found myself unable to get to the end of it in the past.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50Well, I hope you get to the end today!
0:14:50 > 0:14:51- LAUGHING:- I hope so!
0:14:57 > 0:15:04# When like some ember I gradually fade out and die
0:15:05 > 0:15:09# Who's going to stand there and cry?
0:15:10 > 0:15:16# Which one of my friends will know where the book ends?
0:15:16 > 0:15:19# Will know how to tell me goodbye?
0:15:19 > 0:15:26# If like some daydream, I drift through interminable sky
0:15:26 > 0:15:29# Would it have been worth all the pain?
0:15:31 > 0:15:36# Yes, sure would
0:15:36 > 0:15:37# And again
0:15:43 > 0:15:50# Just like a shadow, we leave such a mark and no more
0:15:52 > 0:15:55# Life will go on as before
0:15:57 > 0:16:02# You've broken your heart and you've played out your part
0:16:02 > 0:16:05# And your story don't go on any more
0:16:05 > 0:16:10# If like some whisper that falls with the winter's first snow
0:16:12 > 0:16:18# We're here for a moment or so
0:16:18 > 0:16:24# Then, as dust, we go
0:16:30 > 0:16:37# If we are numbered like some treeless leaf on the breeze
0:16:38 > 0:16:42# Sure, we are easily pleased
0:16:42 > 0:16:47# We hang on to existence just to cover the distance
0:16:47 > 0:16:51# Until we are brought to our knees
0:16:51 > 0:16:57If one drop of rain leaves more of a stain than I
0:16:58 > 0:17:01# Should I just give up and die?
0:17:03 > 0:17:08# No, no, no...
0:17:08 > 0:17:09# Not I
0:17:14 > 0:17:20# When I am called to whatever is calling me home
0:17:22 > 0:17:25# Is there a thing I have known?
0:17:27 > 0:17:29# How long have I lost
0:17:29 > 0:17:35# If I counted the cost I could say I have possibly grown?
0:17:35 > 0:17:38# What take I with me?
0:17:38 > 0:17:41# Nothing but this
0:17:42 > 0:17:47# Once in a momentary kiss
0:17:47 > 0:17:55# I found your love, alone. #
0:18:15 > 0:18:17What better place than here, in the Land of Song,
0:18:17 > 0:18:19to tell you about next week's programme?
0:18:19 > 0:18:21The Hackney Empire in London will be the setting
0:18:21 > 0:18:24for some soul-stirring music...
0:18:24 > 0:18:25# Reaching! #
0:18:25 > 0:18:27..as six top amateur choirs battle it out
0:18:27 > 0:18:33to become BBC Songs Of Praise Gospel Choir Of The Year for 2016.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35# Yeah... #
0:18:41 > 0:18:44You know, before I come to judge Gospel Choir Of The Year,
0:18:44 > 0:18:46I always think, "This is what I'm looking for",
0:18:46 > 0:18:49and it is normally based on the technical things -
0:18:49 > 0:18:50it has to have the right blend,
0:18:50 > 0:18:53it has to have the right vowel sounds, the timing,
0:18:53 > 0:18:54all of it has to be really good.
0:18:54 > 0:18:56But then, when you're sitting there,
0:18:56 > 0:18:58and you have a choir that really moves you,
0:18:58 > 0:19:01for me, that always cuts through.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04# Lord, I live...! #
0:19:04 > 0:19:09A great Gospel choir, for me, is going to stir my soul.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12Either I'm going to leap out of my chair and want to dance,
0:19:12 > 0:19:15or I'm going to be sat in my chair weeping because I am so moved
0:19:15 > 0:19:16by what they are doing vocally.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19It's just got to make you a believer if you're not,
0:19:19 > 0:19:21and strengthen your faith if you are.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23Do you know what I mean? It's just got to touch your soul.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28I'm not looking for perfection.
0:19:28 > 0:19:33I'm looking for something that draws me in, tells me the story,
0:19:33 > 0:19:37but tells it truthfully, so I believe you.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40# Fills my heart...! #
0:19:41 > 0:19:45# Oh, sweet chariot! #
0:19:47 > 0:19:49# Praise, yeah! #
0:19:49 > 0:19:51CHEERING
0:19:51 > 0:19:52Whoo! That's all I have to say.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54Whoo!
0:19:55 > 0:19:57And here are last year's winners,
0:19:57 > 0:19:59Birmingham Community Gospel Choir,
0:19:59 > 0:20:01with their prize-winning song.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03# Now behold the lamb
0:20:03 > 0:20:08# Now behold the lamb
0:20:08 > 0:20:11# Precious Lamb of God
0:20:11 > 0:20:16# The precious Lamb of God
0:20:16 > 0:20:18# Born into sin
0:20:18 > 0:20:20# Born into sin
0:20:20 > 0:20:24# That I may live again
0:20:24 > 0:20:31- # He's the precious Lamb of God - The precious Lamb of God
0:20:31 > 0:20:32# Holy is the Lamb
0:20:32 > 0:20:37# Holy is the Lamb
0:20:37 > 0:20:39# Precious Lamb of God
0:20:39 > 0:20:44# The precious Lamb of God
0:20:44 > 0:20:46# Why you love me so...
0:20:46 > 0:20:48# Why you love me so
0:20:48 > 0:20:52# Lord, I shall never know
0:20:52 > 0:20:59- # He's the precious Lamb of God - The precious Lamb of God
0:21:00 > 0:21:04# Even when I broke, broke your heart
0:21:08 > 0:21:13# My sins tore us apart
0:21:13 > 0:21:15# Hallelujah!
0:21:15 > 0:21:17# Yeah, I'm standing right here
0:21:17 > 0:21:21# In the midst of my tears
0:21:21 > 0:21:26# And, Lord, I claim you to be the Lamb of God
0:21:26 > 0:21:28CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:21:28 > 0:21:35# New life can begin, yeah
0:21:35 > 0:21:42# For he washed away, washed away every one of my sins
0:21:42 > 0:21:45# Who the soul sets free
0:21:45 > 0:21:49# Truly free and deep
0:21:49 > 0:21:56# And, Lord, I claim you to be The La-a-amb of God
0:21:56 > 0:22:01CHEERING AND APPLAUSE # Oh-oh-oh
0:22:01 > 0:22:06# Oh-oh-oh-oh
0:22:08 > 0:22:15# Oh-oh-oh Oh-oh Oh-oh
0:22:15 > 0:22:19# Oh-oh
0:22:20 > 0:22:22# Why you love me so
0:22:22 > 0:22:26# Lord, I shall never know
0:22:26 > 0:22:33# The precious Lamb of God
0:22:33 > 0:22:35# Why you love me so
0:22:35 > 0:22:39# Lord, I shall never know
0:22:39 > 0:22:47# The precious Lamb of God. #
0:22:50 > 0:22:53APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:22:58 > 0:23:01And we're back here in Wales for our next hymn.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04Ar Hyd Y Nos is a traditional Welsh folk song,
0:23:04 > 0:23:07familiar in English as All Through The Night.
0:23:11 > 0:23:19# Holl amrantau'r ser ddywedant
0:23:19 > 0:23:26# Ar hyd y nos
0:23:26 > 0:23:33# Dyma'r ffordd i fro gogoniant
0:23:33 > 0:23:41# Ar hyd y nos
0:23:41 > 0:23:48# Golau arall yw tywyllwch
0:23:48 > 0:23:55# I arddangos gwir brydferthwch
0:23:55 > 0:24:02# Teulu'r nefoedd mewn tawelwch
0:24:02 > 0:24:09# Ar hyd y nos
0:24:09 > 0:24:16# Sleep a while and peace attend thee
0:24:16 > 0:24:23# All through the night
0:24:23 > 0:24:31# Guardian angels God will lend thee
0:24:31 > 0:24:36# All through the night
0:24:38 > 0:24:44# Soft the dreary hours are creeping
0:24:44 > 0:24:52# Hill and vale in slumber sleeping
0:24:52 > 0:24:59# God alone his watch is keeping
0:24:59 > 0:25:06# All through the night. #
0:25:14 > 0:25:17The morning was very, very misty...
0:25:17 > 0:25:20And it was about ten past nine, I think,
0:25:20 > 0:25:23when I heard this terrific crash.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27Sheila was the mother of three children,
0:25:27 > 0:25:30all at school on the day of the Aberfan disaster.
0:25:31 > 0:25:36And there was a knock at the door, and it was Pat, my middle daughter,
0:25:36 > 0:25:40who said, "Mammy, the school's fallen down...
0:25:40 > 0:25:44"and I can't find Sharon and I can't find Gwyn."
0:25:44 > 0:25:46So we went to the school...
0:25:49 > 0:25:53..and the site was...terrible.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57On the top of the school steps,
0:25:57 > 0:26:01Gwyn was there, in terrible shock.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03My heart was in my mouth.
0:26:04 > 0:26:09So, as a mother, when did you begin to lose hope?
0:26:10 > 0:26:13Unless you're presented with the absolute truth,
0:26:13 > 0:26:15a mother will hope for the best.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17Of course.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19I kept hope going...
0:26:19 > 0:26:24until about three o'clock in the morning the next day...
0:26:24 > 0:26:26when my husband came home and said,
0:26:26 > 0:26:28"They found Sharon."
0:26:32 > 0:26:35And that's when I faced the fact
0:26:35 > 0:26:38that Sharon had perished in the school.
0:26:43 > 0:26:45How tough was it for you
0:26:45 > 0:26:48in the days and the months that followed what had happened?
0:26:48 > 0:26:51Well, it was very tough indeed,
0:26:51 > 0:26:54because I had two surviving children.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57They needed their mother more than ever,
0:26:57 > 0:27:00and the only way I could cope with it at that time
0:27:00 > 0:27:04was that I'd wait until the others were asleep,
0:27:04 > 0:27:06and I'd come down and cry my eyes out...
0:27:07 > 0:27:09..downstairs...
0:27:09 > 0:27:14where nobody could see me or hear me.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17But years of crying have passed...
0:27:18 > 0:27:20..until I can't cry any more.
0:27:25 > 0:27:29I felt that the only person I could turn to
0:27:29 > 0:27:32was Jesus the Christ...
0:27:32 > 0:27:39and that, at my worst...point in my life,
0:27:39 > 0:27:41His hand was there for me.
0:27:43 > 0:27:47And that was why I could come out of it
0:27:47 > 0:27:50and heal up to a certain point.
0:27:50 > 0:27:52But we don't heal altogether, you know,
0:27:52 > 0:27:57because we are left with the emotional scars.
0:27:57 > 0:28:02And they are very tender at this time of the year.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08How do you remember your daughter 50 years on?
0:28:08 > 0:28:11Well, I remember Sharon as a...
0:28:13 > 0:28:17..strong, strong-willed girl,
0:28:17 > 0:28:19with a very loud voice.
0:28:19 > 0:28:24And...she was the boss of the other two, you know.
0:28:24 > 0:28:27And I miss her to this day.
0:30:37 > 0:30:40Music helps us express our deepest feelings,
0:30:40 > 0:30:42and, even in times of great sorrow,
0:30:42 > 0:30:46it has the ability to lift and inspire us.
0:30:46 > 0:30:48We're going to end today's programme
0:30:48 > 0:30:51with a hymn more than any other that's associated
0:30:51 > 0:30:54with the enduring spirit of Wales.