Guard honours Aberfan hero (From Penarth Times)

Guard honours Aberfan hero

A PENARTH firefighter who spearheaded the rescue effort at the Aberfan disaster received a tribute from the Fire Service Guard of Honour at his funeral last week.

Hubert "Buzzer" Reynolds, of Lavernock Road, who passed away at the age of 91, was in the fire service for 35 years and fought some of the biggest blazes in recent south Welsh history.

Hubert Reynolds finished his career as the service's chief communications officer, a vital role coordinating the link-up of rescue operations. In October 1966 he was called to the scene of the Aberfan Disaster where 116 children and 28 adults were killed when a coal tip engulfed a junior school.

A year earlier he had worked in the rescue operation at Cambrian Colliery where 31 men died in a pit explosion.

Hubert started his career with the Cardiff City Police Fire Service at the age of 22 in 1938 based on Westgate Street in Cardiff city centre.

In 1940 he saw five fellow firefighters die when a blaze broke out at the Admiralty Fuel Depot in Pembroke Dock which took three weeks to put out. The blaze had been started by German bombers on an air raid.

In 1972 Hubert Reynolds joined the Bro Morgannwg Hospital Management Committee as a fire and safety officer. He was later elected to Penarth Town Council and also served on the Vale of Glamorgan Council.

In the late 1970s Hubert Reynolds became deputy mayor of Penarth.

He was a father of four and had nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.