Aberfan: Sir Karl Jenkins’ choral memorial to disaster

David Hurn

By

Hazel Speed

The heading of this article itself, together with link for full information seems in one way all the due reverence required to remember such a tragedy of lives lost and ongoing sincere sympathy to all the families involved.

1966 was the year and I myself was only 16 years old when our local religious group heard this devastating news causing many to doubt the existence of God as to why it had to happen.

None of us can answer such questions, can we?

I heard a radio interview the other day with Sir Karl Jenkins and he explained the relevancy and significance of his wonderful musical tribute. Also the above link edifies those who cannot recall the facts of the tragedy or who were born after the event.

None of us are promised tomorrow and a story such as this reaffirms the fact.

In the midst of life we are in death.

Obviously, one has to live through a tragedy such as Aberfan knowing what it is like when one’s young child does not return home from school or adult teachers did not return home that night either; those who were in houses which were covered by the slack heaps.

Such sorrows must be hard scars to bear, even if one has a belief.

There but for the Grace of God as they say.

My sincere thoughts and prayers are with those who still have to live through the tragedy we know as Aberfan.

Hazel Speed

Photo (c) Hazel Speed – used by kind permision to Tuck Magazine

Hazel Speed is a Philosopher, Writer, and Artist with various creative projects at differing stages of development. Her flaship project is an animation which has produced a film short: www.thepinkprofessor.com. She has also written an E-novel, ‘Just Suppose…!‘ which is available via the attached link.

Art sites: www.candystoreart.com, www.terrificart.com, www.artbadges.co.uk.