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16:27Quiet! Quiet!
16:29Quiet!
16:57Back to work, everyone!
17:03Every time the whistle blows, it makes they think they've heard something.
17:07Another child trapped beneath the wreckage.
17:24One step, one step.
17:57I guarantee you the highest-level independent inquiry into this tragedy.
18:05All the necessary efforts will be given to those in charge to take whatever action they need.
18:14I've been neglected to this.
18:16I've been neglected to this.
18:21No intention of adding to anything I've made in my step.
18:25It's a bit late now.
18:28We've been turning our room for you as those tips were dangerous.
18:38There was a disaster waiting to happen, and no-one listened.
18:43The casualties in the tip disaster in South Wales could be as high as 200.
18:47Thirty-six people remain in hospital.
18:50Plenty 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?
19:08You haven't heard the news.
19:09No?
19:10I-I-I've been at Caroline's birthday party.
19:14When you read the papers tomorrow, I'll understand.
19:22I-I-I..
19:29I-I-I-I!
19:39A-I-I-I...
19:57The smoke continues to hamper rescue efforts tonight in the village of Abadhan, 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.
20:11Hope 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 and Buckingham Palace have issued a statement of sorrow from the
20:24Queen.
20:24The message reads,
20:25I am shocked and distressed to learn of the terrible disaster which has taken place at Abadhan.
20:30Please convey a message of my heartfelt sympathy from my husband and myself to the children's parents and to the
20:36families of those who have lost their lives.
20:39That's the news from us at the moment. Now back to London.
20:43There will be special reports during the evening.
21:10The Prime Minister.
21:13As of an hour ago, the loss of life in Aberfan stands at 116.
21:18It appears that over 80 are still missing.
21:2036 of the survivors have been hospitalised.
21:24I see. Are any more victims expected to be found?
21:28Not alive, ma'am. To make matters worse,
21:31it 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 in to help.
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
22:07when they're working against the clock is a queen turning up.
22:16I'm not sure I agree.
22:20Children have died.
22:22The community is devastated.
22:26What precisely would you have me do?
22:32Well, 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.
22:45I said comfort people.
23:01I said comfort people.
23:34There's no one go.
23:39Good morning, darling.
23:41Tea?
23:41Why did anyone object?
23:42if i had something stronger coffee no i was thinking whiskey margaret it's nine o'clock
23:48yes i know but it's not morning not my world anyway tony court in the small hours from a
23:59call box in the middle of nowhere it's me can you do something for me you told me to go
24:14into the
24:14children's bedrooms and kiss them while they slept
24:24as soon as he got to abban he went straight to the school
24:38it was unimaginably awful miners 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 each child
25:19noting any possessions they found in their pockets like like a handkerchief or sweets anything to help
25:31identify them
25:45and from there i went to the hospital but there he comforted a man
25:51a man who was holding his son's school cap after the hospitals he wanted to walk back
25:59to the house where he's due to stay he carried on walking
26:06walking
26:09what what what what
26:20No, I've never heard him like that.
26:26I hope I never do again.
26:38We 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?
26:51National Coal Board cannot accept responsibility for the weather.
26:57Abnormal levels of rainfall have created extraordinary conditions.
27:01You've known about the spring under the tip for years.
27:05I 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.
27:20Talk about financial assistance.
27:22Listen, we'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 built 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, this 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 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, and you can't
29:13go 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.
29:39You 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 boards 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,
30:24you'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 ANCB is a creation of the Labour Party.
30:48This is a government-made disaster.
30:53Take responsibility.
31:01You disgust me!
31:03You disgust me.
31:19Yes.
31:23Come on.
31:46And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
31:51And there shall be no more death.
31:55Neither sorrow nor crying.
31:58Neither shall there be any more pain.
32:03For the former things are passed away.
32:10Fear not, for I am with thee.
32:14He shall feed his flock like a shepherd.
32:17He shall gather the lambs with his arm.
32:20And 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, in that day when I make up my jewels.
32:41And I will spare them as 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.
33:09Amen.
33:18Amen.
33:26Amen.
33:33Amen.
33:36Amen.
33:45Amen.
33:56Amen.
34:04Amen.
34:05Amen.
34:06Amen.
34:06Amen.
34:06Oh, 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. They didn't fight in the streets.
35:21What did they do?
35:22They sang. The whole community.
35:27It's the most astonishing thing I've ever heard.
35:37Did you weep?
35:41Did I weep?
35:47What kind of question is that?
35:50Just a question. Did 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.
36:37I see you.
36:41Thank you for letting me know.
36:47We've had a tip-off from a friendly newspaper editor.
36:51The government, determined not to take the blame for Aberfan,
36:55have decided to refocus the subject of the national conversation,
37:02and as briefed newspapers as that.
37:07One person has been conspicuously absent from Aberfan,
37:11and that is our Queen.
37:13The scandalous lack of care and interest,
37:15one 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?
37:40I think we have to assume so.
38:08We will be part of the war right now.
38:10We will let him know
38:13and we will wait.
38:14Tell him to know that we will be himself.
38:15Tell him to look like that.
38:16On arrival at RAF St. Athan,
38:18you will be received by Sakenetrahern,
38:21Lord Lieutenant of Clamorgan,
38:22and taken via car to the school disaster site in Aberfan.
38:28Then on to the Bithania Chapel
38:30for the presentation of the heroes and survivors of the disaster.
38:35There will then be a visit to the cemetery
38:36where you will lay a wreath and finally a visit to the home of a local minor
38:42Thomas Edwards who lost relatives in the disaster and scheduled conversations
38:47with several other grieving families. A whole trip should be approximately two
38:53and a half hours. Without wishing to prompt your majesty you may wish to
38:59consider that this is Wales not England. A display of emotion would not just be
39:04considered appropriate. It's expected.
39:41So
39:42so
41:41This is Councillor Ellis, who lost seven relatives.
41:45Seven?
41:45Yes, ma'am.
41:47Three children, four nephews.
41:49I'm so sorry.
41:52Karen and Alan Jenkins, ma'am, who lost their son Ewan and his four cousins, Tegwin, Bryn,
42:00Maya, and Ben.
42:02Sorry.
42:04Thomas and Gwen Edwards, ma'am, whose home this is, they lost their two children, and this
42:12is Howell, Gwen's father, who managed to rescue one of the grandchildren.
42:18Sarah.
42:19Sarah.
42:20Oh.
42:20She has something for you, ma'am.
42:25From the remaining children of Abelan.
42:32You're welcome.
43:02Oh.
43:04Oh.
43:04Oh.
43:05Oh.
43:05Oh.
43:06Oh.
43:15Oh.
43:23Oh.
43:26Oh.
43:39The Duke of Edinburgh said the family sung a hymn when they buried their children.
43:45Yes, ma'am.
43:48Is there any way I might hear it?
43:50I'm sure we can find a recording.
43:55And I'll ask the Prime Minister to come and see me as soon as possible.
43:59Yes, ma'am.
44:47The Prime Minister, Your Majesty.
44:50Your Majesty.
45:02Churchill would have had the character to do it face to face.
45:06Come to think of it, so would Anthony Eden and Harold Macmillan.
45:12Each of them would have had the courage to express their anger to me directly.
45:16None of them would ever have resorted to going behind my back like that.
45:23I have it on authority.
45:25You tipped off journalists that I was letting the side down by not going to Aberfan.
45:30Never.
45:31It wasn't you?
45:32No, ma'am.
45:37But perhaps one or two of my colleagues concerned at the anger being directed at the government.
45:44Broke ranks.
45:45Took matters into their own hands.
45:50It's possible.
46:03Perhaps they're right.
46:06The people of Aberfan deserved a prompt response.
46:09They didn't get one.
46:10They deserved a display of compassion, of empathy from their Queen.
46:15And they got it yesterday.
46:17They got nothing.
46:19I dabbed a bone-dry eye, and by some miracle, no one noticed.
46:32After the Blitz, when we visited hospitals,
46:37I saw what my parents, the King and Queen, saw.
46:41They wept.
46:43I couldn't.
46:45Well, you were a child.
46:48What do you expect?
46:49Not just as a child.
46:51When my grandmother, Queen Mary,
46:54whom I loved very much,
46:57when she died,
47:02nothing.
47:05Well, if she'd been ill a long time, it had been expected.
47:09When I had my first child,
47:10a moment of such significance for every mother.
47:23I have known for some time, there is something wrong with me.
47:28Not wrong.
47:30Deficient, then.
47:32How else would you describe it when something is missing?
47:40These meetings are confidential, yes.
47:46I have never done a day's manual work in my life.
47:51Not one.
47:52I am an academic.
47:54A privileged Oxford dom.
47:56Not a worker.
47:59I don't like beer.
48:01I prefer brandy.
48:03I 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.
48:26On the campaign trail and on television.
48:30Makes me more...
48:32approachable.
48:35Likeable.
48:40We can't be everything to everyone
48:41and 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.
48:57And you do it very well indeed.
49:01And in a way,
49:03your absence of emotion is a blessing.
49:07No one needs hysteria from a head of state.
49:14You know, the truth is
49:15we barely need humanity.
49:33The truth is,
49:38you have a smile.
49:38Your Majesty.
49:48I am seeing the pain.
49:52I don't know.
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