Prince William and Kate Middleton continued royal duties as they were in South Wales Valleys and Mid Wales this week, meeting members of the local community and spending time with the Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team which is celebrating its 60th anniversary year.
Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team
On this first day in Wales, the Prince of Wales, Patron of
Mountain Rescue England and Wales, and The Princess of Wales spent the
afternoon visiting the Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team.
Run
entirely by volunteers, the Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team has been
working to keep the communities of Mid and South Wales safe since 1963. The
team responds to calls 24 hours a day, year-round and covers the Central
area of the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, which incorporates Pen y Fan,
the highest point in southern Britain, as well as the Ystradfellte
waterfalls, Cardiff, Newport and the Valleys.
During their time with the team, they had the opportunity to
engage in training activities such as abseiling, medical support exercises
and a search dog rescue demonstration. They also met current volunteers and
heard about their roles and experiences of carrying out rescues, in addition
to former team members spanning the organisation’s 60-year history.
Dowlais Rugby Club
After meeting with the Central Beacons Mountain Rescue team,
the Prince and Princess visited the nearby Dowlais Rugby Club where members
of the team typically go to relax and socialise.
Inside the club,
they spent time with mountain rescue volunteers, the organisation’s
supporters, and members of the local community.
Aberfan Memorial Garden
On their second day in Wales, the Prince and Princess visited
the Aberfan Memorial Garden to pay their respects to those who lost their
lives during the Aberfan disaster.
The Aberfan Memorial Garden
sits on the site of the Pantglas school which was tragically destroyed in a
coal-tip landslide on 21st October 1966. The incident led to the loss of 144
lives, including 116 children.
Opened in 1974 by Queen Elizabeth II, the garden commemorates
the victims of the disaster, whilst also providing a place for bereaved
parents, siblings, next of kin, survivors, and the whole community to pay
their respects.
Kate and William were guided around the garden by
one of the Aberfan survivors and Professor Peter Vaughan, Lord Lieutenant of
Mid Glamorgan.
The Prince and Princess then met trustees from the
Aberfan Memorial Trust who are involved in ensuring the maintenance of the
garden, alongside some of the ‘Aberfan Wives’, relatives of the children who
lost their lives during the disaster.
