Howell Williams: The Heroic Teacher Who Saved Lives in the Aberfan Disaster!
On October 21, 1966, the small Welsh village of Aberfan witnessed an unimaginable tragedy when a colliery spoil tip collapsed, engulfing Pantglas Primary School and claiming the lives of 116 children and 28 adults.
Howell Williams Biography
Amidst the chaos and devastation, one man's actions stood out as a beacon of courage and selflessness – Howell Williams, a 25-year-old physical education teacher.
Williams, a newly qualified teacher from Cardiff training college, found himself at the heart of the disaster when the slurry from the spoil tip inundated his classroom.
With remarkable presence of mind, he sprang into action, smashing a window open and helping as many children as possible escape the engulfed room.
Survivor accounts paint a vivid picture of Williams' heroism. Bernard Thomas, a nine-year-old pupil at the time, recounted how he scrambled across the rubble-filled classroom to reach his teacher, who then guided him to safety through the shattered window. Another survivor, Dilys Pope, then aged 10, recalled being trapped by a desk, her leg caught and arm hurting, when Williams freed himself and smashed a window with a stone, allowing her and other children to escape.
Despite the trauma he witnessed and the immense loss of life, Williams remained steadfast in his duty to protect his students.
Gareth Jones, another Aberfan survivor, praised Williams' unwavering support, recalling how the teacher would "make you smile, say something funny" to help the children cope with the aftermath.
In the years that followed, Williams continued his teaching career, working at the temporary school set up in Aberfan before moving to Bishop Hedley Comprehensive School in Merthyr.
However, the scars of that fateful day never truly healed. His son, Jonathan Williams, revealed that his father "never really got over the tragedy" and "struggled" with survivor's guilt, as two-thirds of the children in his classroom perished. Howell Williams' story is a testament to the extraordinary courage and selflessness that can emerge in the face of unimaginable adversity.
His actions on that tragic day in Aberfan saved countless lives and left an indelible mark on the survivors he helped. Though he has now passed away at the age of 82, his legacy as a hero and a dedicated educator will forever be etched in the annals of Welsh history.
Howell Williams Factsheet 2024
