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16:10Prime Minister, Captain.
16:20Sixty bodies recovered so far.
16:22And counting.
16:26Quiet! Quiet!
16:28Quiet!
16:31Quiet!
16:57Back to work, everyone!
16:59Back to work.
17:04Every time the whistle blows, it makes they think they've heard something.
17:07Another child trapped beneath the wreckage.
17:09Oh, man.
17:16Come on, go on.
17:20I'm going to step back, sir.
17:57I guarantee you the highest level independent inquiry into this tragedy all the necessary
18:07will be given to those in charge to take whatever action
18:21no intention of adding to anything I've made in my step it's a bit late now we've been
18:29turn our room for you as those tips are dangerous
18:38there was a disaster waiting to happen and no one listened
18:43the number of casualties in the tip disaster in South Wales could be as high as 200
18:4736 people remain in hospital and plenty of bodies have been recovered
18:51and estimates suggest that as many as 150 more are still missing
18:55most of them children
19:06what are you doing you haven't heard the news
19:09no I've been at Caroline's birthday party
19:14when you read the papers tomorrow I'll understand
19:44I'll see you in the middle of the day
19:57The smoke continues to hamper rescue efforts tonight in the village of Appadhan, South Wales.
20:02So far, 67 bodies, mostly children, have been pulled from the wreckage of Pant Glass Junior School,
20:08which was struck by coal waste from a nearby tip.
20:12Hope remains for many more still missing, but work to recover bodies is likely to continue through the night.
20:18The Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, visited the scene today,
20:20and Buckingham Palace have issued a statement of sorrow from the Queen.
20:24The message reads,
20:25I am shocked and distressed to learn of the terrible disaster which has taken place at Appadhan.
20:30Please convey a message of my heartfelt sympathy from my husband and myself to the children's parents
20:36and to the families of those who have lost their lives.
20:39That's the news from us at the moment.
20:41Now back to London.
20:43There will be special reports during the evening.
21:10Prime Minister.
21:13As of an hour ago, the loss of life in Appadhan stands at 116.
21:18Now it appears that over 80 are still missing.
21:2036 of the survivors have been hospitalised.
21:24I see.
21:25Are any more victims expected to be found?
21:28Not alive, ma'am.
21:30To make matters worse, it has been reported that the north shoulder of Tip 7 has moved
21:34and the village is ready for immediate evacuation.
21:37Mechanical diggers are out of action, bogged down in the soggy mud.
21:41The military have been brought into hell.
21:44Now, given all this, I was hoping I might persuade you to go.
21:55One of the most unfortunate things about being sovereign I have discovered
21:59is that you've paralysed virtually any situation you walk into.
22:03The very last thing emergency and rescue services need when they're working against the clock
22:08is a queen turning up.
22:17I'm not sure I agree.
22:20Children have died.
22:22The community is devastated.
22:26What precisely would you have me do?
22:32We'll comfort people.
22:34Put on a show.
22:36The Crown doesn't do that.
22:41I didn't say put on a show.
22:43I said comfort people.
23:01Your Majesty.
23:35I said comfort people.
23:39morning darling tea would anyone object if i had something stronger coffee no i was thinking
23:46whiskey margaret it's nine o'clock yes i know but it's not morning not my world anyway
23:55tony court in the small hours from a poor box in the middle of nowhere
24:07that's me can you do something for me you told me to go into the children's bedrooms
24:16and kiss them while they slept
24:24as soon as he got to abban he went straight to the school
24:38it was unimaginably awful
24:43miners used to digging for coal now digging to reach their children
24:53many of them spent several hours stuck under the mud beside dead friends
24:58buried alive running out of there
25:04he then went to the mortuary where people were waiting to identify the children's bodies
25:12nurses and salvation army volunteers they were writing a description of each adult
25:17each child noting any possessions they found in their pockets like like a handkerchief or
25:27sweets anything to help identify them
25:45and from there i went to the hospital
25:49but there he comforted a man
25:51he was holding his son's school cap
25:56after the hospitals he wanted to walk back to the house where he's due to stay
26:02but he carried on walking
26:06walking
26:21i've never heard him like that
26:26I hope I never do again.
26:39We have Geoffrey Morgan from the National Coal Board.
26:42I'm George Thomas, Minister of State for Wales, here to answer our question.
26:47Will you both accept responsibility?
26:51The National Coal Board cannot accept responsibility for the weather.
26:57Abnormal levels of rainfall have created extraordinary conditions.
27:02You've known about the spring under the tip for years. I wrote to you.
27:07So did I.
27:08That's what's caused this, not rainfall.
27:10And nothing was done.
27:12Buried alive by the National Coal Board.
27:16That's what I want to see written on my child's desk.
27:20What about financial assistance?
27:23We've got people in dire need now.
27:26When's government going to step in?
27:30Let us be quite clear.
27:34A dreadful tragedy has taken place.
27:37But blame for that cannot be placed at the door of the Labour Party.
27:42Tip number seven was made in 1958 when the Labour Party wasn't in power.
27:49I had a visit today from certain members of the Cabinet.
27:54You need to tell me who.
27:56Who are concerned that this is all turning political.
27:59Of course it's turning political.
28:02And they want you to do something to deflect the blame.
28:06Their view is, if the Labour government pay the price for this tragedy, and the Tories make political capital from
28:12it, it would be obscene.
28:13And a betrayal.
28:14Not just of the people of South Wales, but of all of us in the movement.
28:18We've been waiting for this for too long, Harold.
28:22Thirteen years in opposition.
28:24And now we're finally in power, in government.
28:27We cannot allow ourselves to be crucified on the altar of public opinion over something that isn't our fault.
28:34Oh, when people are angry, they throw stones at their leaders.
28:38Then it's the duty not just to deflect that anger, but to show solidarity with our supporters.
28:43Oh.
28:45This is grief, Marcia.
28:47It's injustice.
28:48It's just another in a long list of injustices.
28:51There's parents grieving their children.
28:53It's also a cold-hearted refusal to accept responsibility by the people who are to blame.
28:59The Tories.
29:00And now they're making us the scapegoats.
29:03Well, what do you want me to do about it?
29:06Make sure they take the blame.
29:08And if you can't blame it on the Tories, and you won't press it in the House,
29:12and you can't go after the NCB until the tribunal is over,
29:15then perhaps we should look for another establishment figure to deflect negative attention.
29:24Who?
29:26Her.
29:28The Queen.
29:30But you must admit, her behaviour is symptomatic of establishment neglect.
29:35Her behaviour is unfortunate.
29:38You went to see her today, didn't you?
29:41Yes.
29:42And you asked her again to go?
29:44Yes.
29:46And what did she say?
29:47The crown doesn't go.
29:50Something like that.
29:52The Duke of Edinburgh is now going.
29:55They pulled him away from some duck shoot.
29:58Yes, but she isn't.
30:00Perhaps there's good reason for that.
30:03Maybe she finds that kind of situation difficult.
30:07Losing your children is difficult.
30:11Losing brothers and sisters is difficult.
30:15Living in a mining village where the coal board abandons you is difficult.
30:19And instead of sticking the knife in her and allowing us all to vent our anger at someone cold-hearted,
30:25you'd sooner let your own team take the blame.
30:27You're pathetic.
30:28You disgust me.
30:29So you keep telling me.
30:30If you ever want to be a real leader, a real man, a real socialist, you're going to have to
30:37grow some balls.
30:40The MCB is a creation of the Labour Party.
30:48This is a government-made disaster.
30:53Take responsibility.
30:55Take responsibility.
31:16This is...
31:18Yes.
31:19Yes.
31:46and God shall wipe away all tears
31:49from their eyes, and there shall be no more death,
31:55neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain,
32:03for the former things are passed away.
32:10Fear not, for I am with thee, he shall feed his flock like a shepherd,
32:17he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom,
32:22and shall gently leave those that are with young,
32:26and the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof,
32:33and they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts.
32:38In that day when I make up my jewels, and I will spare them,
32:43as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
32:48I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth.
32:55I heard a voice from heaven.
33:24Amen.
33:25Father, refuge have I none, and my helpless soul on thee.
33:36Leave me not alone, still support and comfort me.
33:47All my trust on thee this day.
33:53All my help from thee I pray.
33:59Come on, I pray.
34:02I hope you're done.
34:13Come on, I pray.
34:13I pray.
34:13God bless.
34:14Oh, my God.
34:51How was it?
34:53Extraordinary.
34:57The grief, the anger at the government, at the co-board, but at God, too.
35:0681 children were buried today.
35:10The rage in all the faces behind all the guys.
35:16They didn't smash things up.
35:18They didn't fight in the streets.
35:21What did they do?
35:23They sang.
35:25The whole community.
35:27It's the most astonishing thing I've ever heard.
35:37Did you weep?
35:42Did I weep?
35:47What kind of question is that?
35:50Just a question.
35:51Did you weep?
35:54I might have wept, yes.
35:56Are you going to tell me it was inappropriate?
35:59And the fact is, anyone who heard that hymn today would not just have wept.
36:09It would have been broken into a thousand tiny pieces.
36:12It would have been broken into a thousand tiny pieces.
36:35Right.
36:39I see.
36:41Thank you for letting me know.
36:47We've had a tip-off from a friendly newspaper editor.
36:50The government, determined not to take the blame for Aberfan, have decided to refocus the subject of the national conversation.
37:02And as briefed newspaper as that.
37:07One person has been conspicuously absent from Aberfan, and that is our Queen.
37:13The scandalous lack of care and interest, one can only assume it is that, by our head of state,
37:19is symptomatic of a lack of care from the traditional establishment,
37:23not just for the people of Wales, but for the whole working class.
37:36And the Prime Minister gave that his blessing?
37:40Well, I think we have to assume so.
37:45I think we have to assume so.
38:15On arrival at RAF St. Athan, you will be received by Sir Kenetraherne,
38:21Lord-Lieutenant for Glamorgan,
38:22and taken via car to the school disaster site in Aberfan.
38:28Then on to the Bithynia Chapel for the presentation of the heroes and survivors of the disaster.
38:35There will then be a visit to the cemetery, where you will lay a wreath.
38:39And finally, a visit to the home of a local miner, Thomas Edwards,
38:43who lost relatives in the disaster,
38:45and scheduled conversations with several other grieving families.
38:50A whole trip should be approximately two and a half hours.
38:54Without wishing to prompt, Your Majesty,
38:58you may wish to consider that this is Wales, not England.
39:02A display of emotion would not just be considered appropriate.
39:07It's expected.
39:51But when touts the meeting withcriptions required to strive for,
43:57As soon as possible.
43:58Yes, ma'am.
44:47The Prime Minister, Your Majesty.
44:49Your Majesty.
45:02Churchill would have had the character to do it face to face.
45:07Come to think of it, so would Anthony Eden and Harold Macmillan.
45:11Each of them would have had the courage to do it, none of them would have had the courage to
45:28express their anger to me directly.
45:30Never.
45:31It wasn't you?
45:38But perhaps one or two of my colleagues concerned at the anger being directed at the government.
45:43It's possible.
46:10It's possible.
46:31It's possible.
46:34It's possible.
46:36It's possible.
46:43It's possible.
46:45It's possible.
46:46Well, you were a child.
46:48It's possible.
46:54It's possible.
46:58It's possible.
47:01It's possible.
47:04It's possible.
47:26It's possible.
47:33It's possible.
47:41It's possible.
47:42It must, yes.
47:46I have changed.
47:47I have never done a day's manual work in my life.
47:51Not one.
47:52I am an academic.
47:54A privileged Oxford Dom.
47:57Not a worker.
47:59I don't like beer.
48:01I prefer brandy.
48:04I prefer wild salmon to tinned salmon.
48:08Chateaubriand to stained kidney pie.
48:12And I don't like pipe smoking.
48:15I far prefer cigars.
48:19But cigars are a symbol of capitalist privilege.
48:23So I smoke a pipe on the campaign trail and on television.
48:30It makes me more approachable.
48:35Likeable.
48:40We can't be everything to everyone and still be true to ourselves.
48:46We do what we have to do as leaders.
48:49That's our job.
48:51Our job is to calm more crises than we create.
48:56That's our job and you do it very well indeed.
49:01And in a way, your absence of emotion is a blessing.
49:07No one needs hysteria from a head of state.
49:14I mean, the truth is, we barely need humanity.
49:33Prime Minister.
49:38Your Majesty.
50:07KNOCKING
50:39While the hearth haunt us grow, while the tempest still is high,
50:51of the refuge hath I come, as my helpless soul on thee,
51:02leave now, leave me not alone, still support and support me,
51:15with now, God, be alive, with now, I am still.
52:01For more information visit www.FEMA.gov
52:31For more information visit www.FEMA.gov
53:01For more information visit www.FEMA.gov
53:31I love you.
53:32I love you.
54:02I love you.
54:43I love you.
55:02I love you.
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