0:00:02 > 0:00:05It's the last thing we want think about - our funeral.
0:00:06 > 0:00:10But we all have very different thoughts about the way we want to go.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14When the sun sets on the ocean blue,
0:00:14 > 0:00:16remember me as I will always remember you.
0:00:16 > 0:00:18God bless, Mum.
0:00:20 > 0:00:24For some people though, death is very much their way of life.
0:00:25 > 0:00:27And they love their work.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31We care for the dead, but we are there to help the families
0:00:31 > 0:00:35and I can't imagine a more rewarding job.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41Welcome to a world that most of us will never see.
0:00:43 > 0:00:48We are opening the doors on a very Welsh undertaking.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17Lewis Funeral Services are based in Penrhiwpal,
0:01:17 > 0:01:21a small rural village just to the north of Newcastle Emlyn,
0:01:21 > 0:01:25and is owned by Maldwyn Lewis and his wife, Reverend Carys Ann.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28And they met in a rather in usual way.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31I saw him across a grave!
0:01:32 > 0:01:36And we said let's meet up and that was it.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39And we've hit it off great.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42Each funeral is individual.
0:01:42 > 0:01:46Different families have got different ideas
0:01:46 > 0:01:48about their own funeral.
0:01:48 > 0:01:53We've had this recent request from a family who wanted a lorry
0:01:53 > 0:01:58to carry their father from his home to the funeral service.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02So Maldwyn has enlisted the services
0:02:02 > 0:02:05of a 1950 Leyland Beaver lorry, cum hearse,
0:02:05 > 0:02:08owned and driven by David Hall.
0:02:09 > 0:02:13This is a former lorry driver who was 80 years old
0:02:13 > 0:02:17and we are taking him from his house into chapel
0:02:17 > 0:02:19and he's being buried outside the chapel.
0:02:21 > 0:02:22When I first started,
0:02:22 > 0:02:27it was basically lorry drivers who wanted to go out on a vehicle
0:02:27 > 0:02:31similar to what their dad had driven in the early '50s.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34But recently there has been a growth in the business.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38More and more people are interested in me personalising the funeral.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41My top speed on the road is 32mph.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45However, during funerals, I travel along at 25mph.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53This is the first time for the lorry to be down in this area at all,
0:02:53 > 0:02:55so it will be interesting for us.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58The family are saddened at the loss,
0:02:58 > 0:03:01but they are also excited that they are getting their wish
0:03:01 > 0:03:05that their father is going to be carried on this lorry.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08Gwyn drove HGVs all his life
0:03:08 > 0:03:10and loved tinkering with classic vehicles
0:03:10 > 0:03:12and renovating his old tractors.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15His friends and their classic cars have turned out
0:03:15 > 0:03:18to accompany the old lorry on the way to the chapel.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25Gone are the days where everybody went to church
0:03:25 > 0:03:27and was buried in the local cemetery.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32At the end of the day, we try our best to carry out
0:03:32 > 0:03:35the deceased's wishes or the family's wishes.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39Dressed in boiler suits,
0:03:39 > 0:03:43Gwyn's friends carefully transport him into chapel.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48Today has been different.
0:03:48 > 0:03:52Fitting for Gwyn and I'm quite pleased myself.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55People ask, you know, do you enjoy doing funerals?
0:03:55 > 0:03:58I don't think enjoy is the right word to use.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02We do our best for the families, and job satisfaction, yes.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06It is a calling and I feel that, you know, we have done our bit today.
0:04:11 > 0:04:15Gareth and Craig from Baglan Funeral Home have made the journey
0:04:15 > 0:04:18to Birmingham to discover more about a brand-new service
0:04:18 > 0:04:20that is offered to bereaved families.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22The digital postmortem
0:04:22 > 0:04:24is an alternative to the traditional method,
0:04:24 > 0:04:27where the body of the deceased is cut open
0:04:27 > 0:04:29to determine the cause of death.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34The problem that we have now
0:04:34 > 0:04:37is that we've got a two-week wait for a funeral.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40Because the pathologist has to perform a postmortem,
0:04:40 > 0:04:42all that data has to be sent to the coroner
0:04:42 > 0:04:45and the whole process is getting slower and slower
0:04:45 > 0:04:48because there are more postmortems taking place.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50So if we could speed up that process,
0:04:50 > 0:04:53that would be a giant step forward.
0:04:53 > 0:04:59If a person hasn't been seen by a doctor within 14 days of their death,
0:04:59 > 0:05:03then they must have a postmortem to determine the cause of death.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05A legal requirement,
0:05:05 > 0:05:08so the coroner can come to a satisfactory conclusion.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12The new digital postmortem is a totally non-invasive way
0:05:12 > 0:05:16of achieving the same result, but without a scalpel in sight.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20This facility is only one of three in the UK.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24This is a normal hospital scanner.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27It's the way that it's used which is completely different.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31In a hospital, they use a low level of radiation
0:05:31 > 0:05:37to get the images they need because living tissue doesn't like X-rays.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40It doesn't affect the deceased at all.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43So Ruth here will wind this up to maximum power
0:05:43 > 0:05:48and we can get details down to about 0.6 of a millimetre,
0:05:48 > 0:05:50which is pretty fantastic image-wise.
0:05:50 > 0:05:54We will go through into the control room and you can watch the process.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02If the deceased is in a body bag,
0:06:02 > 0:06:06the whole process can be done without actually opening it?
0:06:06 > 0:06:09That's correct, yes. That is what's really good.
0:06:09 > 0:06:13Obviously because it's a CT scanner using X-rays, the X-rays can pass through the body bag,
0:06:13 > 0:06:16so there's no need to open the bag in any shape or form,
0:06:16 > 0:06:19which makes it much safer, not only for myself,
0:06:19 > 0:06:21but obviously for the funeral directors as well.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24There is no risk of infection or anything else
0:06:24 > 0:06:27that could be inside of the bag being a problem.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29So this whole process has taken, what, 15 minutes?
0:06:29 > 0:06:32- Approximately 15 minutes, yes. - Amazing.
0:06:34 > 0:06:36Once the body has been scanned,
0:06:36 > 0:06:40special software converts the data into viewable 3D images,
0:06:40 > 0:06:45making the job for the pathologist faster, cleaner and more accurate.
0:06:45 > 0:06:50Gareth and Craig are shown a case study to demonstrate the system.
0:06:50 > 0:06:54- So this is the spinal injury? - It is, yes.
0:06:54 > 0:07:00So the clinical team decided that he had multiple spinal fractures.
0:07:00 > 0:07:05With my limited medical knowledge, even I can see that there.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08Whereas, if it was on a postmortem table,
0:07:08 > 0:07:11even a pathologist would maybe...
0:07:11 > 0:07:14It could potentially be very difficult.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17- Difficult to see what we are seeing there.- Absolutely.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20It could potentially actually involve the removal of the spine.
0:07:24 > 0:07:25What do you think of that, Craig?
0:07:25 > 0:07:28I think that is absolutely incredible, Gareth.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30It was space-age, almost.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33Yeah, but it's now. It's here.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36Yes, and it's practical and it's here.
0:07:36 > 0:07:41- I don't quite understand why it's not used more extensively.- No.
0:07:41 > 0:07:45Having seen it now, I want to tell everybody about it.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49It's something we can offer the families, we hope, soon.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51Yeah, of course.
0:07:56 > 0:08:00James Tovey from Newport today has a magic funeral to officiate.
0:08:00 > 0:08:04Salvation Army member, Viv, was better known for his tricks,
0:08:04 > 0:08:09being a professional magician and a member of the Magic Circle.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11His friends and magic colleagues have turned out
0:08:11 > 0:08:13to offer their last respects.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16So just at waste height first of all.
0:08:16 > 0:08:20So you at the front can support underneath the other hand. Come round towards me.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23There's a step up on to the pavement so mind that.
0:08:23 > 0:08:27We'll just come round. Nice and square on the pavement.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29Just walk slowly forward. Just follow me.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34In Viv's passing, a little bit of magic disappears
0:08:34 > 0:08:37and to mark this there's a special Magic Circle ceremony
0:08:37 > 0:08:42in memory of the Viv's contribution to their profession.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44So when a magician passes,
0:08:44 > 0:08:48when his performance is over,
0:08:48 > 0:08:53it is our tradition as fellow magicians to break his wand.
0:08:54 > 0:09:00We do this as a clear symbol that he will perform magic no more.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02I now break his wand.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08Viv's performance is now complete.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11Yet his true magic continues
0:09:11 > 0:09:15in the hearts and memories of all of us who knew and loved him.
0:09:21 > 0:09:25# God's love to me is wonderful
0:09:25 > 0:09:30# My very steps are planned
0:09:30 > 0:09:34# When mists of doubt encompass me
0:09:34 > 0:09:38# I hold my Father's hand
0:09:38 > 0:09:42# His love has banished every fear
0:09:42 > 0:09:47# In freedom I rejoice
0:09:47 > 0:09:51# And with my quickened ears I hear
0:09:51 > 0:09:55# The music of His voice. #
0:09:58 > 0:10:01I think it's important always to portray a calm image.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04People often talk about the swan going serenely across the pond.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06It looks calm on the outside,
0:10:06 > 0:10:08but perhaps it is paddling like mad underneath.
0:10:08 > 0:10:12But I do my best to be calm most of the time.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14Just very slowly feed through your hands.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17There is room this way, Bill, if you need to come this way.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29Now we let him go in peace on the wing of a beautiful dove.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32Wish him peace and eternal rest,
0:10:32 > 0:10:35it was an honour to know one of God's best.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49Cymer in the Afan Valley,
0:10:49 > 0:10:54where 40 years ago Gareth Jenkins began his career as an undertaker.
0:10:54 > 0:10:58Today, though, he's on a mission improbable, with his crowbar.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01This is my original yard.
0:11:01 > 0:11:06It was a builder's yard and we used to keep the funeral vehicles here as well.
0:11:06 > 0:11:08When I moved to the new property, I locked it up.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11First time I've been in here for ten years.
0:11:13 > 0:11:15The padlock key is long lost.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17Not a problem for a former builder.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28She's still here.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30After all those years.
0:11:31 > 0:11:35This is the first hearse I believe that I actually bought.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39I'm surprised how good it's looking really.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42I think it was 1983 this was purchased.
0:11:42 > 0:11:46It was second-hand then. Nearly new.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48It never let me down.
0:11:48 > 0:11:53It's just things moved on and we changed the fleet, modernised it.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03There we are. Jones and Jenkins.
0:12:03 > 0:12:08That was my grandfather and father and we were building contractors.
0:12:09 > 0:12:14And undertakers, look. As a lot of people were in the valleys.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17You can see how small the number was. Well, well, well.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19Right, then.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21ENGINE FAILS
0:12:23 > 0:12:25No.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27What did I expect?
0:12:27 > 0:12:30From the place they used to keep the hearse
0:12:30 > 0:12:34to where Gareth's grandfather started making the coffins back in 1948,
0:12:34 > 0:12:38Gareth has happy, if unusual, childhood memories.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41If it was school holidays, I was allowed to come up
0:12:41 > 0:12:44in the middle of the night, which I thought was very exciting,
0:12:44 > 0:12:47and make the coffin with my father and grandfather.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50This is where I made my first one, as well.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54I used to come up here and they used to boil the pitch.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56You had to put it on for an hour or two.
0:12:56 > 0:13:00The coffins were racked along here and they used up pour the pitch in.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02I used to love doing that as a kid, if they let me.
0:13:02 > 0:13:07Then they used to swish all the pitch around the corner
0:13:07 > 0:13:09to seal the old coffins.
0:13:09 > 0:13:13I used to think, I don't know if you remember blackjack sweets,
0:13:13 > 0:13:16but it used to look and feel like it and I used to chew it,
0:13:16 > 0:13:19and I'm sure chewing tar was not good for you!
0:13:19 > 0:13:23My grandfather used to tell me that is how they made blackjacks
0:13:23 > 0:13:26Today, most coffins are mass-produced
0:13:26 > 0:13:28and the choice is never ending.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30However, Tovey Brothers in Newport
0:13:30 > 0:13:34have an individual and high-end offering.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36One of the traditional things that we do
0:13:36 > 0:13:38is still make our solid wood coffins,
0:13:38 > 0:13:40which is very unusual, I believe.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45Tony Roach has been hand-crafting bespoke oak coffins
0:13:45 > 0:13:48in Tovey Brothers for 15 years.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55As far as I know,
0:13:55 > 0:13:58I am the only person in Wales still doing bespoke coffins.
0:13:58 > 0:14:04These solid oaks, I probably only do one a week.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06It is special.
0:14:06 > 0:14:10It is a handmade coffin. It's made of American oak.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14It takes Tony a whole day to make a coffin from start to finish
0:14:14 > 0:14:18and costs around £800, depending on dimensions,
0:14:18 > 0:14:22compared to a standard veneered mass-produced MDF coffin,
0:14:22 > 0:14:25costing between £400 and £600.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28Because it is a special coffin,
0:14:28 > 0:14:33people seem to take more attention, you know, look at it a bit more
0:14:33 > 0:14:38because it's something they have ordered especially, you know.
0:14:38 > 0:14:42So I always like to make sure it's right, you know.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50I feel it's important to maintain certain traditions,
0:14:50 > 0:14:53but not only just for tradition's sake,
0:14:53 > 0:14:57because also I believe it provides an excellent quality coffin
0:14:57 > 0:15:00which families appreciate and do admire when they see them.
0:15:08 > 0:15:12At the other end of the scale is the cardboard coffin.
0:15:12 > 0:15:16Just as unique, but offering a more basic resting place.
0:15:17 > 0:15:21Hefin Williams from the Gwendraeth Valley has one such funeral.
0:15:24 > 0:15:28The family didn't want anything over the top
0:15:28 > 0:15:30so they decided to go for a cardboard coffin.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33Some people think it is a bit odd to have cardboard coffins but it's
0:15:33 > 0:15:37surprising, to be honest with you, how much good of a quality a cardboard coffin is.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41It is a bit cheaper but the quality is the same, you know.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44You may think that a cardboard coffin isn't strong enough
0:15:44 > 0:15:48and although they do pose some practical concerns for the funeral directors,
0:15:48 > 0:15:53the best ones are more than capable of holding up to 26st,
0:15:53 > 0:15:56but still set you back £375.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04If the rigid angles of a conventional-shape coffin
0:16:04 > 0:16:08are a bit too harsh for you, then you can always choose
0:16:08 > 0:16:12an eco-friendly Welsh organic wool cocoon.
0:16:12 > 0:16:17The cocoons are hand produced in a little chapel in Devon by Yuli Somme.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22The leaf cocoon is an alternative to a coffin.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25The whole thing is really, really strong
0:16:25 > 0:16:29and you don't see the shape of the body because there are so many layers of felt
0:16:29 > 0:16:32and that seems to be something very important for people.
0:16:33 > 0:16:38We make these leaf cocoons in this amazing chapel.
0:16:40 > 0:16:44So often people are worried that a shroud is going to be really floppy,
0:16:44 > 0:16:47that the body is going to smell.
0:16:49 > 0:16:53It's not a problem. I haven't had that as a problem.
0:16:54 > 0:16:58We start with a wooden structure and it's very strong
0:16:58 > 0:17:00and we encase that in felt.
0:17:01 > 0:17:07Waterproof paper membrane that will take care of any leakage.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10And then there's a nice wool padding on the top and straps.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14Then over the top of that is a decorated leaf.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23I will definitely be buried in one of my leaf cocoons,
0:17:23 > 0:17:26but I haven't decided what design I'm going to have yet.
0:17:28 > 0:17:32Further personalising your casket, you can choose a colourful coffin,
0:17:32 > 0:17:36which you can have printed with images of your choice.
0:17:36 > 0:17:41Keith Davies was an avid sailor, so what better to adorn his coffin
0:17:41 > 0:17:45than a sailing boat drifting off into the sunset?
0:17:47 > 0:17:51Although Wales is surrounded by sea on three sides, if you do want
0:17:51 > 0:17:55a burial at sea then your choice of location is limited to Southampton.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03John Lister is an expert in sea burials
0:18:03 > 0:18:07and carries out on average ten a year, costing upwards of 4,000 each.
0:18:08 > 0:18:12Leaving Southampton today, John is taking Pamela Poole
0:18:12 > 0:18:16to her final resting place just off The Needles at the Isle of Wight.
0:18:16 > 0:18:20With one daughter living in Canada and one in the UK,
0:18:20 > 0:18:23Pamela wanted to be resting in between them both.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28Ladies and gentlemen, we have come here today
0:18:30 > 0:18:34as an expression of our regard for the life of a beloved human being.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37When the sun sets on the ocean blue,
0:18:37 > 0:18:40remember me as I will always remember you.
0:18:40 > 0:18:44We therefore commit her body to the deep in maritime tradition.
0:18:45 > 0:18:47May she rest in peace.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58In order for the coffin to be suitable for a sea burial,
0:18:58 > 0:19:01it needs to be weighted down and drilled with holes
0:19:01 > 0:19:03so that it sinks to the sea floor.
0:19:08 > 0:19:12A wet Monday morning in the Gwendraeth Valley
0:19:12 > 0:19:14and Hefin Williams is preparing for a funeral that,
0:19:14 > 0:19:18by the decision of the deceased, won't have any mourners.
0:19:20 > 0:19:25We've got a funeral first thing this morning at Llanelli Crematorium. It will be a different funeral.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28There will be no family, no minister, no vicar, nobody there.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31So it will just be myself and my staff.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34We have to do it right as there would be 300 people there,
0:19:34 > 0:19:36so the same respect will be shown.
0:19:36 > 0:19:38The funeral will be done properly
0:19:38 > 0:19:41because this gentleman has been a son, father, grandfather.
0:19:41 > 0:19:43So it's important, you know.
0:19:43 > 0:19:44He has been loved over the years
0:19:44 > 0:19:48so we are going to make sure that he has a good send-off, as they say.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51I spend a lot of time in the hearse.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55Sometimes short journeys, sometimes long journeys, you know.
0:19:55 > 0:20:02Today is a half-hour journey to Llanelli Crematorium.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06Today nobody will see me walking in front of the hearse, but it's respect.
0:20:06 > 0:20:08Personally, I think it's very important.
0:20:08 > 0:20:12It is tradition, I suppose. I think it is a very nice touch.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20When we arrive at the crematorium,
0:20:20 > 0:20:23we will do exactly the same as we do in every other funeral.
0:20:24 > 0:20:28There will be four bearers, we will walk in to music.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32Then there will be a minute's silence during the curtain, the committal part,
0:20:32 > 0:20:35then there will be a piece of music on the way out of the crematorium.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38# Calon lan yn llawn daioni
0:20:40 > 0:20:46# Tecach yw na'r lili dlos. #
0:20:46 > 0:20:49Some people think because there is nobody going to be in the funeral,
0:20:49 > 0:20:52the coffin will go through the back door.
0:20:52 > 0:20:56But no, everyone goes through the front door in the crematorium
0:20:56 > 0:20:58because it is the respect.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02It is quite emotional, actually, and touching.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05It gives you the shivers a bit. You feel for that person.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08You think of the family at this time.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13It is a privilege, to be honest, you know,
0:21:13 > 0:21:16to carry out the family's wishes.
0:21:16 > 0:21:20You know, we show professionalism and it's a privilege.
0:21:23 > 0:21:27It was a nice service, as the gentleman wanted.
0:21:27 > 0:21:29So we carried out his wishes.
0:21:31 > 0:21:38# Roddi i mi galon lan. #
0:21:41 > 0:21:44Cardiff Prison is the destination this morning
0:21:44 > 0:21:47of Baglan undertaker Gareth Jenkins.
0:21:47 > 0:21:52Today, I am going to prison and I am looking forward to it.
0:21:54 > 0:21:58Funeral directors know only too well the positive impact
0:21:58 > 0:22:00that charities have on the lives of the living
0:22:00 > 0:22:04and the support they offer with the aftermath of family loss.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08As well as dealing with donations on a daily basis, it is very important
0:22:08 > 0:22:13that they support their communities and raise money for good causes.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16Next weekend, the Funeral Association and myself
0:22:16 > 0:22:20and my staff are climbing to the top of Snowdon on a charity walk
0:22:20 > 0:22:23for a children's bereavement charity.
0:22:23 > 0:22:28I thought if I had a really quirky and cool T-shirt, people could
0:22:28 > 0:22:33buy the T-shirt and all the proceeds would go towards the charity.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36Rehabilitation of prisoners is key to manager Greg Fisher
0:22:36 > 0:22:38and to Cardiff Prison.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41As part of this, they have an on-site print shop
0:22:41 > 0:22:44that offers a real workplace environment for prisoners.
0:22:46 > 0:22:50Two inmates that work at the print shop are going to help Gareth
0:22:50 > 0:22:53with his funeral director designer shirts.
0:22:54 > 0:22:58Designed it separately because we're going to print on to a black T-shirt.
0:22:58 > 0:23:03We'll obviously design the T-shirt, so all the outside of it will all be black and then on the waistcoat.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05We will also put the jacket then at the bottom
0:23:05 > 0:23:08so it looks like the jacket is open or shut,
0:23:08 > 0:23:10coming down underneath as well.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12That's a nice touch, that is, isn't it?
0:23:16 > 0:23:19I can see there is a lot of work involved.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21Because of the layout of the T-shirt,
0:23:21 > 0:23:24we are printing it off on individual colour vinyl.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27Gold, white, black.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29They are all going to be individual colour vinyl.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31I have always liked fiddly work anyway
0:23:31 > 0:23:34and it's the perfect job for me, to be honest with you.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37- This is the final T-shirt.- Final T-shirt
0:23:39 > 0:23:43Also on a mission to raise money is James Tovey and his family.
0:23:43 > 0:23:47They are all out biking on Father's Day for an important cause.
0:23:47 > 0:23:51We are here for the Father's Day bike ride. Exciting day.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54It is the first Father's Day bike ride in aid of Prostate Cymru.
0:23:54 > 0:23:58This is my wife, Catherine, and my two sons, Harry and Ben.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00They are looking forward to it as well.
0:24:00 > 0:24:04We haven't done much practice so we'll see how it goes.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07Obviously, I want to spend time with the family,
0:24:07 > 0:24:09so the more time I get to do that the better.
0:24:09 > 0:24:13So it's nice when events like this are about the family.
0:24:13 > 0:24:18I would quite like to be maybe a funeral director like my dad
0:24:18 > 0:24:21because I want to be like my dad because he's a good person.
0:24:23 > 0:24:28Off we go. Come on. Have a nice time.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31I think every family has been touched by cancer in one way
0:24:31 > 0:24:34or another and it's just good to raise awareness for all
0:24:34 > 0:24:37the different types and obviously prostate cancer has got
0:24:37 > 0:24:41particular relevance for fathers, so it's nice to raise some awareness.
0:24:42 > 0:24:46Slight halt to the bike race. It is milking time, I'm afraid.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48That is the perils of country life.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51Just a few minutes to catch our breath while the cows cross the road.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53Hopefully we will get going soon.
0:24:53 > 0:24:57I think it's really important, whatever job you do, to have time off,
0:24:57 > 0:25:01to spend time with your family, time to recharge batteries.
0:25:01 > 0:25:05So it's great to just completely switch off and do something different.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07We really enjoyed it.
0:25:07 > 0:25:11Raising money for prostate cancer, it's an important charity as well.
0:25:12 > 0:25:16The funeral directors have gathered at Llanberis for their charity climb
0:25:16 > 0:25:19and Gareth's T-shirts are going down a storm.
0:25:29 > 0:25:34The shirts have created quite a bit of an impact. Everybody likes them.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37I didn't think it would be as difficult as it was.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40As you can see, the sunshine was shining bright when we started
0:25:40 > 0:25:44and I certainly won't be needing these any more!
0:25:44 > 0:25:48I was told the weather can change like that and it certainly has.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50It is surprising how cold it is.
0:25:50 > 0:25:55I did promise myself a reward, a wee dram. Iechyd da!
0:25:59 > 0:26:01Lovely.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03CHEERING
0:26:06 > 0:26:09The job of an undertaker is one of the oldest professions
0:26:09 > 0:26:14and generation after generation have made their living out of dying.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18However, this is certainly not a job for most of us,
0:26:18 > 0:26:20but we have seen them at work.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26The Welsh funeral is changing, though.
0:26:28 > 0:26:31More and more reflecting the personalities of the deceased.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36A celebration of their life.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38For the modern Welsh funeral director,
0:26:38 > 0:26:41their job now is to make our final wishes possible.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45But tradition is still absolutely central to their work,
0:26:46 > 0:26:49as it remains a true family business for many.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54For young funeral directors like Stuart Booth in Laugharne,
0:26:54 > 0:26:58the past informs his present and the family's future.
0:26:59 > 0:27:02Dylan Thomas, he is just synonymous with Laugharne
0:27:02 > 0:27:07and the one big connection we've got is when Dylan Thomas' wife,
0:27:07 > 0:27:10Caitlin, passed away it was called upon my grandfather
0:27:10 > 0:27:13to carry out the funeral service for them.
0:27:13 > 0:27:17She passed away abroad and they went and brought her home from the airport
0:27:17 > 0:27:18and carried out the whole funeral.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21There was loads of press about, calling up the house.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24They had to keep the body in a secret location
0:27:24 > 0:27:27just to stop fans getting access to her and everything like that.
0:27:27 > 0:27:32Now I'm a bit older, I understand why it was such a prestigious thing to have done.
0:27:38 > 0:27:42With the job we do, we see devastation and sorrow every day of our life,
0:27:42 > 0:27:46so any time you get to spend with your family is so important.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50It helps you unwind after a hard day, dealing with what we deal with.
0:27:50 > 0:27:54To come home and see Mason running around and digging in the sand like today, you know,
0:27:54 > 0:27:57and laughing, it helps you unwind and it brings you
0:27:57 > 0:28:00back down to earth and it makes everything a lot easier.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04It's not work to me.
0:28:04 > 0:28:08It's a way of life and I am quite excited about the future
0:28:08 > 0:28:11with the new building, new premises and everything like that.
0:28:11 > 0:28:15Yes, it's quite an exciting time in my life, really.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20With Mason, I often think will he take to this?
0:28:20 > 0:28:23Is it a job he will end up doing?
0:28:23 > 0:28:25I mean, I would be so proud
0:28:25 > 0:28:29if he did carry on and took on the job and I would love him to.
0:28:29 > 0:28:32But I would also like him to play number ten for Wales!