Aberfan Documentary Highlights Coal Board Chairman's Lack of Empathy

The documentary "Aberfan: The Village That Fought Back" on BBC Two has brought renewed attention to the perceived callousness of Lord Alf Robens, the former Labour MP and chairman of the National Coal Board, in the aftermath of the 1966 Aberfan disaster. The program, reviewed by Christopher Stevens, highlights archive footage that he says captures Robens' "vain, supercilious and cold-hearted" demeanor.

According to the review, when Robens arrived in South Wales to address parents who had lost 144 lives, mostly children, in the collapse of a coal waste heap onto a primary school, he appeared more concerned with his departure time than offering condolences. Stevens notes that Robens, who reportedly avoided active military service in World War II by claiming to be medically unfit, evaded responsibility for the catastrophe.

"There was nothing the Coal Board could have done to prevent it, he insisted, and little that needed to be done to help the survivors," the review states. The documentary reportedly focused less on the well-known aspects of the disaster, such as the Queen's reaction or donations from the Kray Twins, and more on the families' struggles and their efforts to prevent future tragedies.

The review details the Coal Board's alleged contempt for the affected families, including Robens' dismissal of risks posed by other slag heaps surrounding the town. Aberfan families reportedly fought for three years to have these hazards removed, and even then, were allegedly made to contribute £150,000 from their own charity fund towards the cost. Bereaved families received approximately £50 from the Coal Board, with the Charity Commission reportedly requiring evidence of closeness to the children for compensation.

The documentary was broadcast on BBC2 across most of the UK, with the exception of Wales, where it aired on BBC1. The review also notes that an accompanying short film, "Unseen: The Aberfan Portraits," about an artist's effort to paint portraits of the lost children, was only shown in Wales. The reviewer expresses bewilderment at this decision and recommends seeking out the short film on iPlayer.