Aberfan mining disaster: Welsh male voice choir drop 144 petals as they pay poignant tribute to 'lost souls' - Mirror.co.uk

A Welsh male voice choir has filmed this touching tribute to the 144 people who perished in the Aberfan mining disaster 50 years ago today.

Singing the atmospheric ‘Myfanwy’, the men symbolically drop 144 red hearts to the floor in memory of the “144 souls lost” when a colliery spoil tip collapsed on top of a primary school and cottage in 1966.

Their haunting vocals are overlaid by the names of the men, women and children who died during the disaster scrolling down the screen.

October 21 marks the 50th anniversary of the Aberfan mining disaster

Getty

One hundred and sixteen children died when Pantglas Junior School was hit by the landslide

Gwyn Hughes, chairman of Flint male voice choir , said: “Like most people of my generation, we awoke 50 years ago to the terrible news that shocked the nation.

“One hundred and sixteen children and 28 adults were buried alive, in one of our nation’s greatest tragedies.

“Aberfan lost its children that morning, but gained a nation’s love, sympathy and prayers.

“I felt this choir with many of us living during that time, should mark this anniversary in a most poignant way."

Flint Male Voice Choir

Many of the choir lived through the disaster and paid their own tribute

“Gone are the children gone are the teachers, but your memory lives on to this day.”

Prime Minister Theresa May has backed calls from Welsh MPs for a minute’s silence to be held across the UK tomorrow as a mark of respect.

First Minister Carwyn Jones has also called upon the people of Wales to pause and remember as a public service takes place at Aberfan Cemetery at 9.15am, where there will be an official laying of the wreaths.

Actor Jonathan Pryce also stars in a “powerful” new drama, Aberfan: The Green Hollow, depicting the event, to be screened on BBC1 at 8pm on Friday.