0:00:00 > 0:00:00- Subtitles
0:00:00 > 0:00:02- Subtitles- - Subtitles
0:00:02 > 0:00:05- As life's worries come to an end...
0:00:05 > 0:00:09- ..the undertaker's worries - are just beginning.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13- In this episode, - we take a step further...
0:00:14 > 0:00:18- ..beyond the boundaries which are - unusual for us but not for them.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20- A man's been found dead.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23- He's been here a week or two...
0:00:23 > 0:00:26- ..and things are very unpleasant.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29- We never know what awaits us.
0:00:31 > 0:00:33- Cerdin is the son of Gwilym Price...
0:00:33 > 0:00:37- ..who finds it difficult - ignoring our camera crew.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39- Who are those for?
0:00:39 > 0:00:40- Who are those for?- - Dad and me.
0:00:40 > 0:00:41- What about them?
0:00:41 > 0:00:43- What about them?- - There's nobody else here.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50- What about her and him, - the ones filming us?
0:01:14 > 0:01:19- In Port Talbot, Gareth Jenkins is - used to receiving difficult calls...
0:01:19 > 0:01:23- ..as well as - the occasional special request.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33- The man who died - came from the village.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35- He was a jockey and trainer.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38- The family asked for a horse theme.
0:01:38 > 0:01:43- Arranging flowers into horseshoes - is what they had in mind.
0:01:43 > 0:01:48- But I suggested a horse and carriage - to carry him to the crematorium.
0:01:48 > 0:01:50- The family said it was perfect.
0:01:56 > 0:01:58- The family never sees this.
0:01:59 > 0:02:03- The things we have to do - when horses are involved!
0:02:05 > 0:02:09- I'll spread this on the garden - and it'll be great.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21- The undertakers of the past - were simple carpenters.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25- They are now funeral directors.
0:02:26 > 0:02:28- "We don't want to see anyone die...
0:02:28 > 0:02:33- "..but when it happens, - we're here to help."
0:02:34 > 0:02:38- In Cardiganshire, there are - three generations of Prices...
0:02:39 > 0:02:42- ..father, son and grandson, - working in unison.
0:02:43 > 0:02:45- But Cerdin is the one - who mans the phone.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47- PHONE RINGS
0:02:49 > 0:02:51- Hello?
0:02:51 > 0:02:53- Yes.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58- I'll phone them now - and get back to you.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01- Righto. Thanks.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03- That was Gwilym.
0:03:03 > 0:03:08- A Lampeter lady - has died in hospital at Glangwili...
0:03:08 > 0:03:10- ..and the son lives in the south.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14- He wants to register the death...
0:03:14 > 0:03:17- ..at the Carmarthen register office.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21- He'd like me - to book an appointment today.
0:03:21 > 0:03:26- Community spirit is still important - in the Lampeter area.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29- Janet, - the lady who has recently died...
0:03:29 > 0:03:32- ..kept Caffi Blaenpant in the town.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35- That's where we'd have tea at 10.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38- I had my first Wagon Wheel...
0:03:38 > 0:03:40- ..from Janet.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43- I don't want anyone to die.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46- I see them - and talk to them every day.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50- But when the time comes, - I'm here to help them.
0:03:52 > 0:03:57- That's what you get when you live - in a close-knit community.
0:03:59 > 0:04:03- It's Friday, - a busy day in the register office.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06- A day for weddings.
0:04:06 > 0:04:08- At least it's ringing.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12- The body won't be moved - from the hospital until next week.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14- Nobody's answering.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17- If he doesn't - make an appointment today.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20- This is the county's - main office in Carmarthen.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24- Hello, good morning. - It's Cerdin from Lampeter.
0:04:24 > 0:04:28- Oh, don't you have anything today? - Nothing?
0:04:28 > 0:04:31- Carmarthen and Llanelli are full?
0:04:32 > 0:04:35- Is there no chance? - He's going back to Cardiff.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37- No chance at all?
0:04:38 > 0:04:41- Would you be willing - to do it teatime or lunchtime?
0:04:43 > 0:04:45- Hello, bach.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50- Quarter past three? You're an angel.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53- Thank you very much, Melissa. Bye.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58- You have to persevere.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03- You have to be insistent but - be nice about it at the same time.
0:05:03 > 0:05:07- What has the hospital told you? - You know the situation, Heulwen.
0:05:07 > 0:05:12- The death has to be registered first - before we can do anything.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15- If there's a problem, - call me back in the office.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18- It's a busy morning.
0:05:18 > 0:05:20- Stress!
0:05:20 > 0:05:23- It's stressful coordinating things.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27- I need this. My mouth is dry - from speaking on the phone.
0:05:27 > 0:05:32- Gwilym will phone me, complaining - I've been on the phone for too long!
0:05:34 > 0:05:36- He's the only one working.
0:05:36 > 0:05:37- Who?
0:05:37 > 0:05:39- Who?- - Who?
0:05:39 > 0:05:41- Gwilym.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48- There's paperwork to be done - in Port Talbot too.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51- Gareth has - the perfect man for the job.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55- This is Craig.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57- His name's Craig Perfect.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01- He's second in command to me.
0:06:01 > 0:06:06- Behind me is Gail, the secretary.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09- She also arranges the funerals.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11- Excuse me a moment.
0:06:14 > 0:06:19- Yes, we are expecting your call. - I'll pass you over to Mr Perfect.
0:06:21 > 0:06:26- But even Mr Perfect isn't perfect...
0:06:26 > 0:06:28- ..all the time.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32- The council - had difficulties preparing a grave.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36- There was grass matting - but nothing underneath it.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40- I stepped on it and found myself - to be standing in a grave.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43- The minister - was in fits of laughter.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46- I had to - finish the funeral for him.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49- He told the family - he was having a coffin fit!
0:06:50 > 0:06:52- One to forget.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55- I'll never let him forget it, - put it that way!
0:07:03 > 0:07:10- "The body was there a month. - It was starting to turn to water."
0:07:12 > 0:07:16- Rhys and his father are used to - bringing bodies to the morgue...
0:07:16 > 0:07:18- ..from the hospital or home...
0:07:19 > 0:07:21- ..but some days - are harder than others.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25- There's no telling - what we might see.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30- The body - comes back here first of all...
0:07:30 > 0:07:34- ..before going - for a post-mortem or inquest.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39- The worst one to date for me...
0:07:39 > 0:07:42- ..was a woman - who lived alone in a flat.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44- She had no family.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47- She had been there a month.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50- The body - starts to evaporate by then.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53- The people in the flat below her...
0:07:54 > 0:07:58- ..had noticed - something dripping from the ceiling.
0:08:04 > 0:08:06- I have a glass of wine...
0:08:06 > 0:08:08- ..with supper at night...
0:08:08 > 0:08:11- ..after dealing with - difficult cases.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17- You feel the family's grief.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20- You can't go through it unaffected.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24- It does - take its toll on you sometimes.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31- Embalming - the craft - of preserving a corpse...
0:08:31 > 0:08:34- ..is the work of Dorian Harries.
0:08:35 > 0:08:40- "As a rule, I don't - get to know the cause of death."
0:08:42 > 0:08:46- It's just turned six o'clock and I'm - on my way to Baglan, Port Talbot.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49- I'll be there in half an hour.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51- The early bird catches the worm.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56- He works in tandem - with 40 undertakers.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00- Gareth Jenkins - is his first visit today.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04- I hope he's awake, the lazy thing!
0:09:05 > 0:09:09- I'm going to make as much noise - as I can to make sure he's up!
0:09:12 > 0:09:16- Dorian knows how much pride - Gareth takes in his flowers.
0:09:17 > 0:09:19- These are all weeds!
0:09:23 > 0:09:25- Good spirits or not...
0:09:25 > 0:09:28- Let me check for the bogeyman!
0:09:28 > 0:09:30- ..he has a hard task ahead of him.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33- ..he has a hard task ahead of him.- - He'll be at home for about a week.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36- OK, that's fine.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40- The challenge - is not just the length of time...
0:09:40 > 0:09:42- ..that the body will be at home.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45- It has come - straight from hospital...
0:09:46 > 0:09:49- ..and requires - the embalmer's expert hand.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54- Sometimes the person - has died on the operating table.
0:09:55 > 0:09:59- He might've had open-heart surgery. - The body is left exactly as it was.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03- I can see - he already has a colostomy bag.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06- He still has a tracheotomy.
0:10:06 > 0:10:10- Now I can see - he's had major surgery.
0:10:10 > 0:10:14- The drip is still in place, - so that will have to come out.
0:10:14 > 0:10:18- I'll be running even later - after this one. OK.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25- I don't get to know - if he has TB or AIDS...
0:10:26 > 0:10:30- ..Hep A, B, C, D - I don't even know - the cause of death.
0:10:32 > 0:10:36- His head is full of fluid - which has seeped from the lungs.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40- By the time - they'd have taken the body home...
0:10:40 > 0:10:44- ..the water would have escaped - through his head and nose...
0:10:44 > 0:10:47- ..over his clothes - and into the coffin.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51- Some may have - hardening of the arteries...
0:10:52 > 0:10:55- ..so the embalming fluid - doesn't always reach the feet.
0:10:55 > 0:11:00- The body would go back home - and the flesh would begin to shed...
0:11:00 > 0:11:03- ..and turn to water in the coffin.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06- I always make sure - it reaches the feet.
0:11:12 > 0:11:13- .
0:11:16 > 0:11:16- Subtitles
0:11:16 > 0:11:18- Subtitles- - Subtitles
0:11:22 > 0:11:29- "I remember when I was a child, - playing Dracula in the coffin."
0:11:30 > 0:11:32- Cymmer in the Afan Valley...
0:11:32 > 0:11:35- ..the birthplace of - Gareth Jenkins and his business.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41- This is Cymmer Afan. - I was born over there.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44- We moved across the road to here.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48- My grandfather - lived on the opposite side.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51- Cymmer's former undertaker...
0:11:51 > 0:11:54- ..had died...
0:11:54 > 0:11:58- ..so my grandfather and father said, - "We can do that."
0:11:58 > 0:12:01- Dad was a carpenter - and Tad-cu a stonemason.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04- He was the Jones - in the Jones & Jenkins.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08- Funeral Directors - and Building Contractors.
0:12:08 > 0:12:10- They did both.
0:12:13 > 0:12:17- As a child, - I used to go to Bethania chapel.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21- That used to be the chapel of rest - in the early days.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26- That's the first house I bought...
0:12:27 > 0:12:29- ..when I got married.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31- Mam-gu and Tad-cu lived next door.
0:12:31 > 0:12:35- There's the shed - where we began making coffins.
0:12:35 > 0:12:40- It doesn't look very big - but we kept everything in that shed.
0:12:40 > 0:12:44- If someone died in the village, - we had to build the coffin...
0:12:45 > 0:12:47- ..the same night.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49- We'd be up all night finishing it.
0:12:50 > 0:12:54- Ever since he was a child, - he's always been a bit of a showman.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04- I remember - when we were little children...
0:13:04 > 0:13:07- ..we played Dracula in the coffin.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11- The shed - eventually became too small...
0:13:12 > 0:13:15- ..so we bought this place up here.
0:13:15 > 0:13:17- Jones & Jenkins, as you can see.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20- We still own it.
0:13:22 > 0:13:26- "If someone dies with their - mouth open, we want to close it."
0:13:27 > 0:13:29- How are you, Charlie? Good morning.
0:13:29 > 0:13:35- In Lampeter, Charlie is trying - to sell Cerdin the latest goods...
0:13:35 > 0:13:38- ..for dressing - the body and the coffin.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43- Say the coffin is open...
0:13:43 > 0:13:47- Will you hold that for me? - Let's see the size of it.
0:13:47 > 0:13:51- When the coffin is open - and people come to visit the body...
0:13:51 > 0:13:53- ..we can drape this on top...
0:13:54 > 0:13:56- ..until the family arrives.
0:13:57 > 0:14:02- For a thrifty Cardi like Cerdin, he - also has something to show Charlie.
0:14:02 > 0:14:04- Who's the salesman now, I wonder?
0:14:06 > 0:14:11- Say someone's died and the mouth - is open, we want to close it.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14- This is - what I've seen lately, Charlie.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18- It's made in Sweden. - You rest that under the chin.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33- Gareth is back in Cymmer, - this time on business, not pleasure.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37- He's brought - an all-important, yet simple tool.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41- I have to measure up - to make sure the coffin will fit.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45- There's a small problem - with this grave.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48- There's a big stone at the bottom.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51- I've come up today...
0:14:51 > 0:14:55- ..to check the grave is deep enough.
0:14:55 > 0:15:00- It's not easy getting jackhammers - up here, but it's a must.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04- With two days to go, - there's plenty of time to do it.
0:15:06 > 0:15:11- Around 20% of the population - are buried in cemeteries.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14- 10 years from now, - it'll be more like five percent.
0:15:15 > 0:15:19- Bodies have to be cremated - because there's no room left.
0:15:21 > 0:15:28- "It takes around an hour and a half - to cremate a body."
0:15:31 > 0:15:34- And here we are, - the world beyond the curtain.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38- The crematorium - is Malcolm Thomas's place of work.
0:15:43 > 0:15:48- The first funeral takes place at - nine or ten o'clock in the morning.
0:15:48 > 0:15:53- Funerals follow - every hour until 3.30pm.
0:16:15 > 0:16:17- It takes - around an hour and a half...
0:16:18 > 0:16:20- ..to cremate the body...
0:16:20 > 0:16:25- ..and about two hours - for the cooling period.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30- There are two chambers.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33- The coffin - goes into the bottom chamber...
0:16:33 > 0:16:36- ..and the top chamber - burns the gases.
0:16:36 > 0:16:41- You'll never see smoke coming out of - the crematorium's chimney.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51- Once I've removed - the cremated remains...
0:16:52 > 0:16:55- ..and they've cooled down, - I go through the process...
0:16:55 > 0:16:58- ..of extracting - the nails and the magnet...
0:16:58 > 0:17:02- ..before transferring them - to the cremulator...
0:17:02 > 0:17:04- ..for the final process.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14- What's that machine called again?
0:17:14 > 0:17:15- The cremulator.
0:17:15 > 0:17:17- The cremulator.- - What does it do?
0:17:17 > 0:17:21- It crushes the bones...
0:17:21 > 0:17:23- ..into dust.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37- Following an early start - in Port Talbot...
0:17:37 > 0:17:42- ..Dorian arrives in Pembrokeshire to - deal with his 10th body of the day.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46- "It's better - not to give it too much thought...
0:17:46 > 0:17:49- "..and just do - what needs to be done."
0:17:53 > 0:17:57- Last week I embalmed the body - of a young girl. She was 16.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00- I provided my services for free...
0:18:00 > 0:18:03- ..because she was 16 years or under.
0:18:06 > 0:18:08- She was a young girl.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12- I do what needs to be done.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16- You can't think about - their lives...
0:18:16 > 0:18:20- ..whether they're married - and have children...
0:18:20 > 0:18:22- ..because you become attached.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24- You have to switch off.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38- Lots of people say to me...
0:18:38 > 0:18:43- .."How do you deal with bodies and - blood?", but that's the easy part.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47- When you meet the family - for the first time...
0:18:47 > 0:18:50- ..I have to be the same - with every family...
0:18:50 > 0:18:52- ..and they have to think...
0:18:52 > 0:18:56- ..that they're - the only family I'm dealing with.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59- Sometimes when I go to bed...
0:18:59 > 0:19:02- ..I can't get that family - out of my mind.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04- Most of the time I can do it.
0:19:04 > 0:19:09- I put on a haversack, - pick a mountain...
0:19:10 > 0:19:12- ..and walk up to the top.
0:19:12 > 0:19:17- I sit down, have five minutes with - my thoughts and it does the trick.
0:19:17 > 0:19:22- But there are times when - I think about a family constantly.
0:19:25 > 0:19:29- "You have to look after the cars - - new ones cost 135,000."
0:19:30 > 0:19:34- Another day and another funeral - for the Prices of Lampeter.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37- Today's not the day - for the hearse to break down.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42- Today we're travelling 100 miles.
0:19:42 > 0:19:46- We check them every two weeks, - but since we have a long journey...
0:19:47 > 0:19:50- ..we check - the oil, water and air conditioning.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53- It gets warm in the car, - so we have to take care.
0:19:56 > 0:20:01- The only time a car has broken down - was on the way back from a funeral.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06- We were taking the family back home - and the head gasket blew.
0:20:06 > 0:20:08- It was costly to repair.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11- Our priority - is to get the family home.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13- The vehicles come second.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18- The water pump went - and it was expensive to repair.
0:20:19 > 0:20:21- But we do look after them.
0:20:22 > 0:20:24- It's imperative.
0:20:24 > 0:20:29- The new Daimlers cost 135,000 each.
0:20:29 > 0:20:34- That's how much it would cost us - to buy a brand new vehicle.
0:20:45 > 0:20:50- Whilst burying - another lifelong friend of his...
0:20:50 > 0:20:52- ..Gwilym eagerly admits...
0:20:52 > 0:20:56- ..that he's - already prepared for the inevitable.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58- The problem is...
0:20:59 > 0:21:02- ..I could be next in line, - couldn't I?
0:21:02 > 0:21:05- I don't want much fuss. - They know what I want.
0:21:06 > 0:21:08- I don't want to be cremated. Oh, no.
0:21:08 > 0:21:12- I don't want to be cremated.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14- I've told Rhys what to do.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17- Unless I go before him!
0:21:17 > 0:21:20- Trouble is, we don't know - who's going to be next.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28- Every funeral is just as important.
0:21:28 > 0:21:33- Today is no different, - although Janet was a friend.
0:21:33 > 0:21:35- She was a real character.
0:21:35 > 0:21:39- I'll make sure - she crosses safely to Jordan...
0:21:39 > 0:21:42- ..before we say - our last goodbyes to her.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55- She's served people all her life...
0:21:56 > 0:21:58- ..now it's time for us to serve her.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02- We will do it with dignity.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05- I think that's vitally important.
0:22:23 > 0:22:27- Next time, what does the future - hold for Rhys and his generation?
0:22:28 > 0:22:33- You're better off learning from - someone younger than ourselves.
0:22:33 > 0:22:37- And we explore the ways in which - undertakers relax and come to life.
0:22:38 > 0:22:40- What do you think? - Shall I go for this?
0:22:57 > 0:22:59- S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.
0:22:59 > 0:23:00- .