Printed Material & Reports

One of the important reports relating to the Aberfan Disaster, the report of the tribunal summarises the conclusions drawn from the 76 days that the tribunal sat from the period of October 26th, 1966 - August 3rd, 1967:

Below are various reports submitted as part of tribunal evidence, largely from the Aberfan Parents' & Residents' Association collection. It includes a small sample of legal firms' findings on the causes of the Aberfan Disaster, an analysis on rainfall leading up to the Disaster from the Meteorological Office, and an Ordnance Survey officer's submitting earlier plans of Aberfan to highlight the known risks involved leading up to the Disaster:

These reports look more specifically at tip safety at the aftermath of the tribunal with recommendations from H. Digby Roberts one year later and Land Use Consultants' proposal for Aberfan's tip safety (commissioned by the NCB), later followed up with a review conducted by Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick & Partners on the removal of tip 7. 

The final report, a consultation held at the College of Further Education, Merthyr Tydfil, also briefly discusses tip removal but focuses on communication and a divide in the community of Aberfan:

Other crucial publications relating to the Disaster are the first and second report of the Aberfan Disaster Fund Management Committee, describing the immense financial aid received and detailing recipients of the Fund, specifying about the amount of money given to those injured or bereaved. The report also covers the history of the Fund's establishment in the aftermath of the disaster and its governance, including the creation of the trust deed and appointment of committee members:

“The Way Ahead” conferences, well recorded in printed reports, were community led meetings which would later lead to the establishment of the Aberfan Community Association. Topics of discussion often looked inwardly at community challenges following the Disaster and at communication from committees and government involvement in aiding with the redevelopment of Aberfan:

A document provided by the Civic Trust For Wales further analysed the impact of the initial “Way Ahead” conference to better highlight the wider implications it would have on the community and redevelopment:

Headway, Aberfan's community magazine, sent to residents monthly, focused on covering community events but also brought attention to news relating to the village. For example, in addition to providing a fourth ‘Way Ahead' conference report, the magazine covered the establishment of the Community Association and drew attention to the continued link between Aberfan and Lara:

Shown below is Rev. Erastus Jones' copy of the official opening of the Aberfan Community Centre by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, outlining the arrangements of the day while providing further information on the construction and purpose of the building. The booklet also gives some further context on the work of the Disaster Fund management committee, Tŷ Toronto, and the Community Association, detailing how their work contributed to the community. The second booklet aimed to promote initial events and general activities available at the Community Centre:

Opened in June 1968 as an extension to the Zion Methodist Chapel, the Aberfan Youth Centre aimed to provide a facility for children and young people to organise events or for everyday general and educational use: 

Press notices and statements were included in the Aberfan Disaster Fund collection covering Rt. Hon. Cledwyn Hughes' coverage of the landscaping scheme for the tips, Gerald Davies' statement on allocation of the Disaster Fund to bereaved families, and a later statement from Rhodri Morgan in 2007, announcing a further £2 million for Aberfan charities: 

The 'Call To The Valleys' conference drew attention to many challenges facing the community in the aftermath of the Disaster. One of which was unemployment due to the decline of the coal industry in the late 1960s/early 1970s. The demonstrations in 1971 highlight this was a substantive issue by 1973. The conference report also highlights a change in community engagement generally, decline in religion, and standards of living: