Err, Yes Pete, we do know the incident you mentioned here in South Wales. The old Merthyr Vale tips at Aberfan have now stabilised enough for them to plant trees upon them. I see the plantings every day on my way to work up the A470.

As my father said, and before he got out of the pits he was an NCB Engineer (Thought there was a bettr future in teaching) - Post Aberfan, and the Watkins Enquiry - " There, but for the grace of God, went I" - At Crumlin, Abercarne, Nine Mile Point, and Betteshanger (in Kent)he'd ordered tipping (US = Tailing) without worrying about the long term future.

My 18th Birthday was spent underground at the Lady Windsor Colliery nr Pontypridd. Ostensibly an Union Inspection by the Lodge I found out later that he had persueded the Lodge Chairman of the NUM to take me down, and give me a hard time. Just to remove any illusions that I may have had about the glamour of being a collier.

It worked.

Gareth

They came down here from London,
They said our output's low,
Brief cases full of Bank Clerk's
Who have never been below.
And they'll close the valley's oldest mine,
Pretending that their sad,
But don't you worry butty, man,
We're really very glad !
'Cos it's hard, dew it's hard,
Harder than you will ever know,
And if ham were under ground,
Would it be five bob a poubd,
And the Pithead Baths are a supermarket now !"