Aberfan Survivor Gareth Jones Meets Grandson of Man Who Saved Him in 1966 Disaster
Gareth Jones, who survived the Aberfan disaster of October 1966, recently encountered a startling personal connection during a visit to Troedyrhiw Primary School. While addressing pupils about the catastrophe, a 10-year-old boy named Noah presented a photograph, asking Jones if he recognised the individual depicted.
Jones immediately identified the man as Stephen Andrew, the school caretaker who, on that fateful day, pulled him through a shattered classroom window to safety. Jones, who had never seen a photograph of Andrew, described the moment as “absolutely gobsmacked”, marking the completion of a long-standing personal puzzle.
The Aberfan disaster, which occurred on 21 October 1966, saw a colliery spoil tip collapse above Pantglas Junior School, burying the building and nearby homes. The catastrophe claimed the lives of 116 children and 28 adults. Stephen Andrew, despite his heroic actions in saving children like Jones, tragically lost his own two sons, Kelvin and Malcolm, in the disaster.
Noah, who grew up with stories of his great-grandfather’s bravery and loss, expressed pride in Andrew’s actions. The interaction underscored the profound and enduring impact of the disaster on the community, particularly as the 60th anniversary approaches. Teachers at Troedyrhiw Primary, located near the original Pantglas Primary site in Merthyr Tydfil county, emphasise the importance of these first-hand accounts in fostering understanding and empathy among local children.
Separately, another Aberfan survivor, Gaynor Madgwick, engaged with students at Hampstead Middle School in New Hampshire, USA, via video call. Madgwick recounted her experience of being trapped beneath rubble and the subsequent loss of her siblings and friends. She spoke candidly about her decades-long struggle with anxiety and trauma, diagnosed as PTSD five years ago. Madgwick stressed the importance of sharing survivors' stories globally, not only to preserve the memory of the disaster but also to encourage children to articulate their feelings and not “suffer in silence.” The American students’ in-depth knowledge and questions moved Madgwick, highlighting the cross-generational and international resonance of the Aberfan tragedy.
