Pennod 2 Traed Lan

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-Death is the final act for us all.

-But for some,

-death is a way of life.

-A means of upholding a tradition,

-supporting a family...

-..and forging a business.

-Dealing with

-and handling uncomfortable issues...

-..with sympathy and a smile.

-Helping us

-depart this world with dignity.

-Let us escort you

-to the world beyond the curtain...

-..and the closed door.

-The world of the living

-among the dead.

-The world of Traed Lan.

-In the Lampeter area, Gwilym Price,

-his son Cerdin and grandson Rhys...

-..are funeral directors in the town

-and surrounding regions.

-"It's alright for Rhys.

-He goes to the gym.

-When we go to the homes...

-..we have to

-carry the bodies down the stairs.

-We contort our bodies and sometimes

-our backs and pelvis dislocate.

-It happens now and then

-and I have to visit the osteopath.

-I'm just going to put my hand here.

-HE GROANS

-It's bad there today, Kate.

-It's incredibly tight...

-..but at least Kate can release it.

-Popping pills just numbs the pain,

-it doesn't release it.

-If I left it and didn't

-have treatment, it would worsen.

-Rhys is young enough.

-He goes to the gym.

-I don't go to the gym or anything.

-It's part and parcel of the work.

-I lift weight as part of my job.

-There we go.

-That went back, Kate.

-That went back, Kate.

-

-Was that just noise or pain?

-No, it went back. It clicked.

-I just try to relax and go with it.

-There's no point

-going against what Kate's doing.

-Tradition is important

-to the Price family business.

-But the young blood has gradually

-but surely been altering things.

-We've bought blankets

-for all the vehicles.

-It stops the cars

-from getting dusty.

-We can wash the cars and put

-the covers straight over them...

-..ready for the next funeral.

-It was Rhys' idea

-to have the tropical fish.

-We've a fish tank now.

-They're nice to look at.

-They're a distraction for people.

-Lots of people

-sit there and watch them swim.

-Rhys thought we should

-introduce books of condolence...

-..for mourners to sign.

-So we sell those now.

-I think it's a good idea.

-It's a way for people

-to leave the family a message...

-..or write down

-what they remember about the person.

-It's something nice for the family

-to look at after the funeral.

-It's something to cherish.

-But despite

-Rhys' enthusiasm and new ideas...

-..the family is also facing

-some difficult times.

-We've been very busy.

-The family's dealing with illness,

-which has put us under more strain.

-Rhys has been unwell

-with glandular fever...

-..and my father's been receiving

-cancer treatment in Swansea.

-We're not sure what's happening

-with that at the moment.

-It's difficult when someone's ill.

-It puts everyone

-under more pressure.

-Tad-cu has cancer, so the business

-is under a bit of strain.

-He still comes to a few funerals

-with me in the hearse.

-He's quite positive

-so we have to stay positive too.

-Gareth Jenkins is a funeral director

-from Cymmer Afan, Port Talbot.

-"Craig is like a son to me and today

-he's like a child on Christmas day."

-Gareth's father

-was a carpenter and builder.

-He only wore a suit for funerals.

-These days

-he wears a suit every day.

-It's important we look smart.

-Every year, usually in summer...

-..we buy new suits

-and new coats for the winter.

-Ladies and gentlemen,

-Mr Phillip Williams.

-It's like

-Are You Being Served? here!

-Remember, Phillip,

-we haven't discussed prices yet.

-I know that.

-I know that.

-

-I'm sweating!

-Gareth measures up the deceased...

-..while Phillip's job

-is to measure up the living.

-They always tend to grow.

-Some of them have grown.

-Talk of the devil!

-Hello, Craig, how are you?

-Gareth has a slight problem.

-His coat tails.

-I need Velcro to hold it down.

-It it's windy,

-it blows over my head.

-I look like

-one of those old photographs.

-I'm like this. Smile!

-Craig Perfect

-has a good reason to smile.

-Today, the new sign

-is an indication...

-..that he has become

-part of the family.

-Since I don't have children,

-I have to think about the future.

-Craig is like a son to me.

-I think now's the right time

-to make Craig a partner.

-He deserves it.

-He's worked very hard.

-He's been a big help to me.

-I hope it'll mean I'll be able

-to take things a bit easier now...

-..and relax a bit more

-while Craig takes up the slack.

-They're putting up the new sign.

-Craig's been like a child

-on Christmas Day today.

-He's excited

-to see his name on the building.

-The sign looks nice.

-I feel very happy. I'm grateful to

-Gareth for bringing me in like this.

-I look forward

-to a happy future together.

-What he doesn't know...

-..since he hasn't read the small

-print and he can't speak Welsh...

-..but he'll have to work harder,

-he won't be eligible for holidays...

-..and he'll be working

-for less money.

-All you have to do is smile for me.

-There were go, that was

-our agreement caught on camera.

-"We're lucky to be here today

-but we're on call again tonight."

-For three days every alternate year

-in Stoneleigh...

-..it is funeral directors,

-not farmers, who occupy the site.

-At the National Funeral Exhibition

-there are striking features...

-..alongside

-the latest technology and fashions.

-From suits and coffins

-to vehicles and gadgets.

-Among the visitors is this

-motley cru from the Wild West.

-Among them

-are the Prices from Lampeter.

-Gwilym's meeting old friends...

-..while Rhys and Cerdin are here

-to see what's new on the market.

-We're seeing new ideas, meeting

-old faces and learning new things.

-We're lucky we can be here today.

-The family's

-taking care of business back home.

-We're here for the day but we we're

-back on call when we get back home.

-I'm not looking forward

-to this evening.

-It was Gwilym's birthday last night

-but we stuck to tea and cake.

-With his back as it is, Cerdin

-has been drawn to this gadget...

-..which can lift

-a dead weight of 50 stone.

-It's a very good gadget.

-It reduces strain on the back.

-We all complain of backache

-after a day of lifting.

-This facilitates the work.

-It's a very good gadget to have...

-..if there are

-no pall-bearers at a cemetery.

-Attracting a lot of the attention...

-..was the digital autopsy stand.

-The only way of establishing

-the cause of sudden death...

-..is by opening up the body.

-The company claims this scanner

-can diagnose without intervention.

-I think it's a good idea if families

-prefer not to have a post-mortem.

-It's less stressful for them...

-..and it's less work

-for embalmers too.

-They don't have to

-cut the arteries...

-..so the embalmer

-has more to work with.

-A seasoned exhibitor

-and family friend of the Prices...

-..is Clive Leverton, the

-Royal Family's funeral director.

-Rhys will soon spend

-several weeks in London...

-..to experience

-the latest developments...

-..such as this electric hearse

-devised by Clive himself.

-It's something

-which hasn't been done before.

-Because it's in London...

-..Clive doesn't have to pay tax

-or congestion charges.

-There are zero emissions,

-so it makes sense.

-You're coming up to London soon...

-..so when you're up,

-you have a spin round.

-I'll have a test drive.

-The future.

-The future.

-

-Indeed.

-One of the West Wales clan...

-..spends his time on the forecourt

-among the cars and hearses.

-Nice.

-This is Matthew Jones...

-..known as

-Matthew Marw to his friends.

-Despite his nickname,

-Matthew isn't an undertaker.

-His job is to transport the dead

-and the mourners...

-..in his fleet

-of luxurious vehicles.

-"I wash a lot of cars

-but my hands are soft!"

-My grandfather was a carpenter

-and an undertaker years ago.

-I remember him

-making coffins in his shed...

-..and my interest

-started from there.

-I bought the business in October

-2009. We've grown since then.

-I'd say there are

-30 funeral directors on our books.

-A few of them

-use us twice a year...

-..while others use us

-four or five times a week.

-I've seven employees. Some have been

-doing this much longer than I have.

-You have to be polite and you have

-to help the funeral director...

-..with the flowers and the coffin.

-It requires more than just driving.

-This is

-the funeral director's shop window.

-We wash the cars after

-every funeral, ready for the next.

-They're polished every six weeks.

-One is polished each week

-since there are six cars.

-From start to finish, it takes

-about an hour and a quarter.

-That's washing it, drying it,

-hoovering and cleaning the windows.

-It takes a full day to clean the

-entire fleet but my hands are soft!

-Matthew's here

-on business, not pleasure.

-Since image is the key to success,

-he has to spend to accumulate.

-I might change one or two cars

-but there are six in all.

-I can't

-change them all at the same time.

-I'll see if I can do a deal.

-It's vital the cars look good.

-That's what people see

-on the day of the funeral.

-They're large cars. A lot of money's

-been spent on converting them.

-You don't need any more leg room.

-Take these Jaguars...

-..I think they cost around 125,000.

-I think the Volvos are about

-90,000, which is a lot of money...

-..but hopefully

-the business pays for the car.

-It has one sole purpose.

-You can't go to Tesco in a hearse!

-It's designed for just one job.

-The chequebook is at hand

-if the price is right.

-We'll see what the reps have to say

-and take it from there.

-We'll do a deal, depending on

-how ruthless he's prepared to be.

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-"Billy'll be

-looking down on this and laughing!"

-In Port Talbot, Gareth Jenkins is

-about to fulfil an unusual promise.

-Billy Cynon was a JCB driver

-for most of his life.

-That's nice, isn't it?

-To honour his wishes...

-..Billy will be transported

-to the crematorium in a JCB.

-He was a colourful character.

-The valley's

-a poorer place now he's gone.

-He went to every funeral

-to show his respect.

-He was a member

-of the British Legion for 60 years.

-He was very proud of that fact.

-Before we get to the crematorium...

-..we'll transfer the coffin

-to the JCB.

-It'll hopefully take five minutes.

-We've practised it.

-He loved the JCB.

-He enjoyed driving it.

-Billy starts his journey

-to Coychurch Crematorium...

-..in a traditional hearse.

-Once off the motorway...

-..his final wishes

-for his funeral are granted.

-OK, gentlemen?

-He'd love this. Absolutely love it.

-We'll put the flag on

-when we're in the crematorium.

-We don't want it flying away.

-I just told his daughter

-Trudy-Anne...

-..that it's a pity Billy can't

-see this because he'd enjoy it.

-Dorian Harries is an embalmer...

-..who works in the undertakers'

-back room in the west.

-He ensures the dead look as good as

-they can for loved ones and friends.

-The National Funeral Exhibition

-is a key event for the industry.

-Dorian has recently been on holiday

-and reaching here has been a rush.

-I got back about half past four and

-was picked up at six this morning.

-I try to get here every two years.

-Three or four stands

-sell embalming equipment.

-I'm here to see what's new.

-A couple of new products.

-One is a 5% arterial fluid.

-I use this company's products

-on a daily basis.

-It's an American company and I've

-been dealing with them for 20 years.

-It's nice to see what's new on the

-market and hopefully strike a deal.

-Part of the deal...

-..will include

-this innocent-looking powder.

-But it's a very special powder.

-It's a powder

-which absorbs bodily fluid.

-After a body has had a post-mortem,

-water and blood escapes.

-I'll take 40 tubs of these

-and 40 tubs of those.

-Good man. Excellent.

-There's a dent in my finances

-but I must do a good job.

-If I'm called to Aberystwyth

-for a job...

-..I can't afford the time...

-..to go back there and

-correct a body if it's not right.

-I give 100% in everything I do.

-Having struck a deal, Dorian joins

-his fellow Welshmen at the dummies.

-All the varied colours represent the

-different pallid shades of death.

-Dorian is an expert in re-modelling

-and shading the faces of the dead.

-I'm an old hand at this.

-It's nice being able to practise...

-..but doing it on skin

-is different because skin moves.

-But it's obvious

-that not everyone...

-..has the same aptitude

-as the professional embalmer.

-It's the first time I've done this.

-That one's been on holidays with

-Dorian in Tenerife. He's sunburnt!

-Weeks after Stoneleigh...

-..Matthew Jones

-is feeling excited in Carmarthen.

-Today we're travelling to Wigan

-to drop off one of these hearses...

-..and pick up

-two hearses and one limousine.

-They're brand new cars, so it's

-an exciting time for us here.

-The cars will be used right away

-because we've a busy day tomorrow.

-I'll get back later, wash them

-and out they go tomorrow.

-"It's interesting seeing a new

-and expensive car being gutted."

-At the factory in Wigan...

-..they split brand new luxurious

-and expensive cars in two.

-It's the beginning

-of a remarkable process...

-..to convert them

-into hearses or funeral vehicles.

-When one goes out the door, polished

-and ready, another comes in?

-As well as halving them...

-..they completely gut the vehicles

-before extending them.

-The extended prop shaft goes on, the

-extended fuel pipes, brake pipes.

-The vehicle's new body and

-everything needed for its revival...

-..is manufactured here

-at this factory.

-It's been interesting seeing how

-an expensive car is stripped back...

-..and the interior ripped out

-to make a stretch limousine.

-They add an extra metre to it.

-It's very interesting.

-I think

-they produce about 100 a year.

-That's a lot of cars

-and a lot of money.

-Matthew was a businessman when

-he arrived, but now he's a child...

-..in his favourite toyshop.

-..in his favourite toyshop.

-

-Instead of leaving finger marks...

-..all you do is press this button.

-They do look fantastic

-when they hit the road.

-Thank you very much.

-Having seen all there is to see...

-..the key moment has arrived.

-We're going to drive away the cars.

-Malcolm's going to take my money...

-..and we're driving them home.

-I'll have to stop on the way

-to contemplate what I've done!

-After the spending in Wigan,

-Matthew and his new cars...

-..are on their way home.

-Tomorrow,

-this trinity will be central...

-..in the funerals of West Wales.

-"The Last Post gets me every time."

-The JCB brings Billy Cynon's body

-to the crematorium's gates...

-..in line with the script

-of the director, Gareth Jenkins.

-Billy Cynon.

-The only sadness is that Billy

-isn't here to see it himself.

-He would've wanted to be driving it

-instead of riding in it!

-The Lord is my shepherd,

-I shall not want.

-For the final scene,

-the director has ensured...

-..that old soldier Billy

-becomes the centre of attention.

-# The Last Post #

-When the Last Post

-was being played...

-..it got me right here.

-It always makes me tearful.

-But I had to keep it together.

-It was nice seeing everyone

-laying poppies on the coffin.

-That was nice.

-I'm happy it all went to plan.

-I'm having a cup of coffee and

-sandwiches before my next funeral.

-I have to get a move on.

-Next time...

-..do you think you could stomach

-a day in the life of an embalmer?

-The body's cold.

-Would you want your ashes

-embedded in the skin of a loved one?

-And what has Gareth

-come to see in Prague?

-That's not to look out,

-it's to see in!

-S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.

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