One Lamp. Three Disasters. One Long Night.
So where are we?
The car’s parked outside the Wrexham Miners Project and, unbelievably, I have a lit miners’ lamp strapped into my passenger seat.
If you’ve missed Part One, please catch up here: www.wxmweekly.com. It’ll tell you all about the plan.
Here, I’ll tell you the results...
Now, the miners’ lamps are famously designed to be used in gassy mines, but at 2.30am, with my head still thinking I’ve completely lost the plot, it doesn’t seem right driving into a petrol station to buy fuel. I question myself several times, but I really need some diesel. I choose a pay-at-the-pump station because, even though I know it’s sealed, if it wasn’t, I’d only kill myself. I would become famous and hopefully get a candle at next year’s vigil. 🤣
...But it is definitely sealed.
Something I’d end up arguing about later in the day.
Things started out OK. I’m making good time because not many fools drive this route at that time of the morning. Leominster comes and goes.
No problem.
I’m about to enter Hereford when I see blue flashing lights in my rear-view mirror. I pull over to let the police get on with catching crooks.
He doesn’t go past.
He pulls in behind me.
My thoughts immediately go to the letter sitting on top of my microwave.
I’ve got a speeding fine to pay.
Please God, not another one, I thought.
The police officer comes over and tells me I’ve got a sidelight out. I smack it a few times, but it doesn’t come back on.
It was worth a try.
“What exactly are you up to... at 4am?”
“I’m taking a flame from Wrexham to Cardiff for a charity.”
I didn’t mention Aberfan and Senghenydd.
I didn’t need anyone else questioning my sanity.
He accepted my explanation and my promise to get the light fixed in the morning, and I was back on my way.
I drove past Big Pit and thought about all the places around here I really need to visit. Everyone seems to neglect Mid Wales.
Shortly afterwards, I was pleased to finally see an Aberfan sign.
The memorial wasn’t open during the night, so I only needed to find a town sign. I pulled over, made a video and took a few pictures.
It didn’t feel right just driving past, but I promise to return.
I put Senghenydd into the satnav.
It was my next stop on this remembrance journey.
The satnav stated it was only 20 minutes away.
Superb.
I thought it might be miles out of my way.
I drove away from Aberfan and into the next village. I was driving up the High Street when my satnav suddenly went mental. I thought it was broken.
I turned around and realised it wasn’t the satnav at all.
I’d missed a turning.
How?
Because the road didn’t exactly look inviting. It wasn’t very wide and seemed to disappear steeply up the side of the mountain.
There was no turning back now.
It went up.
And up.
And up.
The shops disappeared.
Then the houses.
Then the farms.
Until there was nothing.
Just a road.
In the pitch black.
With patches of fog.
A road barely wide enough for one car.
Passing places every now and then.
Steep drops down one side.
And locals using it as a shortcut.
Headlights appeared in the distance, blinding me as they came towards me, making it impossible to judge where the next passing place was.
Even worse, cars started appearing behind me.
By now my eyes were getting heavy.
I needed a break.
I regretted not taking one before tackling this road.
The satnav said twenty minutes.
It took me considerably longer.
But I got through it safely.
Now can I take you back to the meeting I mentioned in Part One?
It was my idea to take a flame to Cardiff.
I take full responsibility for that.
It was Wendy, a fellow trustee, who suggested Aberfan.
I don’t blame her.
I still think it was a beautiful idea.
Then George — Mr Wrexham Miners Project himself — suggested Senghenydd.
Another brilliant idea.
Again, I don’t blame anyone for the trip.
However...
I do blame George for my predicament of driving over that mountain between the two disaster sites.
When I got back, I mentioned the drive.
George casually replied...
“Oh yes, I’ve driven that road. It’s really dangerous, isn’t it?”
He’d driven it………. in daylight...
...and never thought to warn me.
“Oh yeah... I probably should have said something, shouldn’t I?”
Thanks, George.
Ah well.
I survived.
And I missed yet another opportunity to make the front page of the Leader.
The pictures were taken.
The videos were recorded.
The flame was still burning.
Now it was time for Cardiff.
Part 3 sees me arrive in Cardiff, marvel over a brick building, get the back of my head on TV, and a rush to get home.
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