Welsh TV presenter Alex Jones has opened up on an emotional project away from her usual hosting duties on The One Show. The BBC presenter has filmed a new documentary ahead of the 60th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster on October 21.
A documentary marking 60 years since the tragedy
Aberfan: the Village That Fought Back tells the story of how villagers battled the National Coal Board to have the remaining coal tips above the village removed following the tragedy in which 116 children and 28 adults were killed after a colliery spoil tip collapsed and slurry engulfed a school and a row of houses.
A synopsis for the programme reads: "The catastrophic collapse in 1966 of a coal-waste tip above the south Wales village of Aberfan remains one of the most devastating tragedies in modern British history. The slide engulfed a school and neighbouring homes, claiming the lives of 116 children and 28 adults in a disaster that shocked the world, but the story of what followed has been largely forgotten."
Survivors 'became frightened schoolchildren again'
Alex returned to her homeland to film the documentary earlier this year and has now opened up on making the programme. The 49-year-old recalls how Aberfan survivors, now in their late sixties and seventies, became frightened schoolchildren again as they described the morning of the disaster.
"The people in front of me were in their late 60s, early 70s, but when they went back to the morning of the disaster, they were schoolchildren again. They looked so frightened," she says in an interview with the Radio Times.
On visiting Aberfan Cemetery the mum-of-three admitted: "I don't know whether it was tougher being a mum myself, but it's the saddest thing I've ever seen. It absolutely floored me."
Meeting the last child pulled from the wreckage
Alex also met with Jeff Edwards, the last child to be pulled from the school wreckage. "There's a photograph of Jeff when he's seven years old with bright blond hair, being pulled out of the rubble, and that picture tells a thousand stories," she adds.
During her time filming the documentary, Ammanford-born Alex shared details on her Instagram along with photographs of her return to Wales. Alex said in her post: "Spent this week filming in South Wales and despite the very poignant topic of the documentary, it was so nice to be on home turf, spending time with one of my best friends since school @catrowlands77 who was in charge of the production."
In one of the photos, Alex is stood in front of a plaque at Pantglas Junior School Memorial Garden which reads: 'Dedicated to the 116 children and 28 adults who lost their lives 21 October 1966. To those we love and miss so very much. I'r rhai a garwn ac y galarwn o'u colli.'
The programme's director Ceri Isfryn told the Radio Times: "This happened 60 years ago. But the echoes of authority not taking responsibility and treating people appallingly in the light of awful tragedies means there is a sad relevance today."
Aberfan: The Village That Fought Back airs on Monday, October 19 on BBC One Wales at 9pm.
