Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney MP Gerald Jones has called for a UK-wide minute’s silence on Friday to mark the 50th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster.
The Labour MP had his call backed by Prime Minister Theresa May during Prime Minister’s Questions held today, Wednesday, October 19.
Mr Jones said: “On Friday morning at 9.15am on the anniversary of the disaster the people in the community, along with communities across Wales, will mark that disaster with a minute’s silence. Could I ask the Prime Minister whether she would support that moment of silence being marked, as the disaster affected communities right across the country if not the world, [across] the UK as well?”
Mrs May said: “I think it is appropriate that we all mark and show our respect for those who lost their lives and the families who suffered as a result of the Aberfan tragedy that took place those 50 years ago. It was, as we were saying earlier, a terrible tragedy not just for individual families but for a whole community and I think it’s right we recognise that and mark it.”
The Prime Minister, together with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, both paid tribute to the victims and survivors of the tragedy and also praised a BBC documentary about the disaster that aired on BBC One on Tuesday.
Mr Corbyn said: “Many in that community are still living with that tragedy and will live with that tragedy for the rest of their days.
“I remember it very well as a young person growing up at that time and watching collections for the disaster fund. I think the BBC documentary presented by Huw Edwards was absolutely brilliant and poignant and serves to remind us all of what that disaster was about.”
Mrs May said the inquiry, which was the subject of the BBC documentary, had been “very clear about where responsibility lay”.
Meanwhile, the Welsh Assembly Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney Dawn Bowden led tributes at the Senedd today.
She said: “The dignity has been so apparent as the people of Aberfan have come together to make arrangements to mark this anniversary.
“I pay tribute to all of you, not just this year, but every day of every year for everything you do for each other and for the memory of those who were lost. I have worked with many of you in recent months discussing this week’s events. It has been my privilege to get to know you and to now call you my friends.”
Ms Bowden acknowledged that only those directly involved with the tragedy could ever know the true impact of the events of October 21 1966 and concluded her address by saying: “We, as the National Assembly for Wales, on behalf of the people of Wales, and so many people beyond, can hope that our acts of commemoration will offer some continuing support and comfort to the community of Aberfan.”