The PE teacher who survived the Aberfan disaster in 1966 has died aged 82. Howell Williams, from Treharris, was just 25 when the colliery spoil tip engulfed Pantglas Primary School on October 21.
Newly qualified as a PE teacher from Cardiff training college, Mr Williams helped many children escape by smashing open a window in his classroom, which had been engulfed by slurry. Speaking after his death, which happened at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital on March 29, his son Jonathan Williams said his father never really got over that tragic day.
"It was totally life changing," he said. "It took its toll on him. He talked about it a lot but he couldn't come to terms with it. I think it's such a big event in Welsh history and things like this need to be marked. In his classroom, two thirds of the children died. He was one of the ones who survived because he was squashed up at the back of the classroom and he smashed the window and escaped through it. He helped to free as many children as he could. But it got to him, the survivor's guilt." You can get more local news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
