Sixty years ago, when volunteers and rescue workers carried out the excruciating task of recovering the 144 bodies of those killed in the Aberfan disaster, they found the body of David “Dai” Beynon.
When the tidal wave of sludge and debris descended towards Pantglas Junior School, after the collapse of a colliery spoil tip positioned above Aberfan, Beynon acted quickly. The deputy head teacher grabbed the five children closest to him and sheltered behind a blackboard, doing all he could to protect them from the thundering avalanche heading their way.
Neither Beynon nor any of the children in that classroom survived. When the rescue workers reached his body behind the blackboard, they found that he was still clutching the five children.
At Merthyr RFC, where Beynon was club captain in the late 1940s, that act of bravery has never been forgotten. Beynon was a back-row who had trials for Wales and played for Pontypridd, with injuries derailing a promising playing career. By the time of his death at the age of 47, Beynon was a committee member at Merthyr and a key part of the club.
As part of Merthyr’s centenary celebrations in 1976, a decade after the Aberfan disaster, DC Williams wrote a tribute to his former colleague, which gave a valuable insight into a man of immense character. Williams recalled last seeing Beynon behind the back of the stadium at The Wern working alongside other committee and playing members, “his trousers rolled up to his knees”, to remove stones and rubble so the water from the mountain could run freely past the ground, protecting the playing field.
Williams wrote: “Not only did David return to the club at the height of his playing career, but he became one of the most loyal and active of committee members. He was a true club man. What greater tribute could be paid!”
Worth remembering what came after. The inquiry put the blame on the National Coal Board, yet £150,000 from the public disaster fund was used to help clear the remaining tips above the village. The government didn't pay it back until 1997.
[OP] TheObserverUK | 6 hours ago
Sixty years ago, when volunteers and rescue workers carried out the excruciating task of recovering the 144 bodies of those killed in the Aberfan disaster, they found the body of David “Dai” Beynon.
When the tidal wave of sludge and debris descended towards Pantglas Junior School, after the collapse of a colliery spoil tip positioned above Aberfan, Beynon acted quickly. The deputy head teacher grabbed the five children closest to him and sheltered behind a blackboard, doing all he could to protect them from the thundering avalanche heading their way.
Neither Beynon nor any of the children in that classroom survived. When the rescue workers reached his body behind the blackboard, they found that he was still clutching the five children.
At Merthyr RFC, where Beynon was club captain in the late 1940s, that act of bravery has never been forgotten. Beynon was a back-row who had trials for Wales and played for Pontypridd, with injuries derailing a promising playing career. By the time of his death at the age of 47, Beynon was a committee member at Merthyr and a key part of the club.
As part of Merthyr’s centenary celebrations in 1976, a decade after the Aberfan disaster, DC Williams wrote a tribute to his former colleague, which gave a valuable insight into a man of immense character. Williams recalled last seeing Beynon behind the back of the stadium at The Wern working alongside other committee and playing members, “his trousers rolled up to his knees”, to remove stones and rubble so the water from the mountain could run freely past the ground, protecting the playing field.
Williams wrote: “Not only did David return to the club at the height of his playing career, but he became one of the most loyal and active of committee members. He was a true club man. What greater tribute could be paid!”
Read the full article here: https://observer.co.uk/news/sport/article/how-rugby-rallied-and-remembered-its-heroes-after-horrific-aberfan-disaster
MSRavenscroft | 39 minutes ago
Worth remembering what came after. The inquiry put the blame on the National Coal Board, yet £150,000 from the public disaster fund was used to help clear the remaining tips above the village. The government didn't pay it back until 1997.