A YOUNG nurse who rushed to the aid of the victims of the Penmaenpool tragedy has recounted her memories of that terrible day 50 years on.

Ceinwen Morris, originally form Arthog, was an 18-year-old nurse at Dolgellau Hospital when a boating catastrophe along the Mawddach estuary took place five decades ago.

A poignant memorial event next Friday (22 July) will remember the 15 people, including four children, who drowned that day.

The service will begin at 11.30am in the car park of the Penmaenpool Signal Box, near to the site where the Prince of Wales ferry hit the area’s iconic toll bridge as it was nearing the end of its pleasure trip from Barmouth on 22 July 1966.

There will also be a minute’s silence during the proceedings at the exact time of the incident.

Thirty-nine people were on board the ferry for the eight-mile trip, but as the skipper tried to manoeuvre the boat to the hotel jetty, the vessel was washed into the wooden toll bridge and sank.

The passengers were thrown into the fast-running incoming tide with inevitable fatalities.

A remembrance service was held to remember the victims 40 years on in 2006.

Ceinwen, 68, remembers the accident with grim clarity.

“We were all working, all the medical staff were there whether we were on or off duty,” the retired nurse told the Cambrian News.

“The Red Cross were present too, it was incredible the amount of people we saw trying to help, whether they were at the river or in the hospital.

“It was very calm throughout the area, there was no sense of panic, everyone just got on with whatever job there was to do.

“Nobody could tell you what needed doing so you just did all you could.

“Our main job that day as nurses was to comfort people, especially those who had lost family members.

“I remember seeing one of the bodies in particular, a beautiful little girl with lovely dark hair and wearing one red sandal, she was laying next to her brother and what I assumed were her parents.

“What can you do? I just stroked her face and carried on with what needed doing – I’ll never forget her though.”

See the full story in this week’s Meirionnydd edition of the Cambrian News