Denise Morgan, who lost her nine-year-old sister Annette in the Aberfan disaster 60 years ago, has told BBC Breakfast that the tragedy shaped her life and that Annette will "forever" be nine years old.
In 1966, a primary school and several homes were engulfed in a landslide of coal waste, killing 144 people. Of those, 116 were children, mostly aged between seven and 10, while 28 adults died, five of whom were teachers.
Portrait of Annette
After the disaster, an artist made portraits of the children who died, which were given to the families as a tribute. One portrait depicted Annette and was given to Denise and her family.
Speaking to Sally Nugent and Jon Kay on BBC Breakfast, Denise said: "It really was a remarkable image. Her eyes seemed to follow you in the room, wherever you were. She was forever nine, really, in our house because the painting arrived not long after she passed away."
Denise explained that the portrait became a daily presence in their home, prompting questions from younger generations. "It became some time that we spoke to each other really, every day. As my sibling was growing up, they were very young at the time of the disaster. As the grandchildren came along, the great-grandchildren came along, and they asked, 'Who is that? Who is the portrait of?'"
Emotional anniversary
She added: "Then we'd explain it was Annette and that she died in the disaster, and she was nine years of age. So in our family, she was forever nine, really."
Denise said this year's anniversary will be emotional for her family, especially as they lost her mother last year. She told the presenters she feels the "immense loss" that her mother is not there to share the 60th anniversary with them.
Denise was 11 when the disaster happened. She told Sally and Jon: "For me, growing up after the disaster, I mean, the disaster shaped my life. It's still embedded in the memory of Aberfan and in all those who survived it, really."
Living for Annette
She continued: "It made me more determined, more resilient to achieve what I wanted in my life. Annette will never have that opportunity, along with all her friends and my friends who passed away at the time."
Denise said she feels as though she is living for Annette, a message her family has instilled in the children. She added: "Don't let what happened in your earlier life shape you because you can achieve, against the odds, which it was for us in our case."
BBC Breakfast continues weekdays on BBC One from 6am.
