Casgliadau Arlein

Letter (written in reply) from Mrs Rennie Williams in Merthyr Tydfil to Mr & Mrs Bentley in Sydney, Australia, on 7 November 1966.

Rennie Williams was a teacher at Pantglas Junior School at the time of the Aberfan disaster on 21 October 1966. On that day, she rescued several children who were trapped in the school hall. She was one of four teachers who survived the disaster. The four remained friends and Rennie Williams continued teaching until retirement.

Following the Aberfan disaster, Rennie Williams received a letter from Mr & Mrs Bentely from Sydney, Australia (who were strangers to her) commending her on her ‘brave action’. This is her short letter of reply, thanking them for their kind words. It demonstrates the global reach of the Aberfan disaster at the time, and that people from across the world felt the need to connect with those that were directly affected.