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| Stradey Park funeral for Gravell | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The funeral of Ray Gravell is to be held at Stradey Park, the home of the Llanelli Scarlets where his illustrious rugby career flourished. | The funeral of Ray Gravell is to be held at Stradey Park, the home of the Llanelli Scarlets where his illustrious rugby career flourished. |
| Gravell, 56, died last week while on holiday with his family in Spain. | Gravell, 56, died last week while on holiday with his family in Spain. |
| A spokesman for the family confirmed the funeral for Gravell, who was club president, will take place at Stradey. | A spokesman for the family confirmed the funeral for Gravell, who was club president, will take place at Stradey. |
| No date for the service has been revealed and the body of the former Wales and British Lions centre has not yet been returned from Spain. | No date for the service has been revealed and the body of the former Wales and British Lions centre has not yet been returned from Spain. |
| It is understood the service at the rugby ground will be followed by a private cremation. | |
| Gravell, who earlier this year had part of his leg amputated after complications with diabetes, died after suffering a suspected heart attack last Wednesday. | Gravell, who earlier this year had part of his leg amputated after complications with diabetes, died after suffering a suspected heart attack last Wednesday. |
| Tributes to him have flooded in since the sudden death and books of condolences for people to sign in his memory have been opened in Carmarthenshire County Hall, at Stradey Park, and at the BBC in Cardiff where he worked as a broadcaster. | Tributes to him have flooded in since the sudden death and books of condolences for people to sign in his memory have been opened in Carmarthenshire County Hall, at Stradey Park, and at the BBC in Cardiff where he worked as a broadcaster. |
| Tremendous warmth | Tremendous warmth |
| Flags were also flown at half mast in Carmarthenshire where Gravell lived in the street named in his honour in recent years. | Flags were also flown at half mast in Carmarthenshire where Gravell lived in the street named in his honour in recent years. |
| Gravell's wife Mari and daughters Manon and Gwenan have also announced the Ray Gravell Trust Fund which will help charities and causes "close to his heart" is being set up. | Gravell's wife Mari and daughters Manon and Gwenan have also announced the Ray Gravell Trust Fund which will help charities and causes "close to his heart" is being set up. |
| The family said in a statement that they were " extremely grateful and appreciative of the tremendous warmth and response of people and feel that a trust fund in Ray's name would be what he wanted". | The family said in a statement that they were " extremely grateful and appreciative of the tremendous warmth and response of people and feel that a trust fund in Ray's name would be what he wanted". |
| Gravell won 23 caps for his country during Welsh rugby's 1970s hey day and toured South Africa with the 1980 Lions tour. | Gravell won 23 caps for his country during Welsh rugby's 1970s hey day and toured South Africa with the 1980 Lions tour. |
| Gravell toured South Africa with the Lions in 1980 | Gravell toured South Africa with the Lions in 1980 |
| Afterwards, as well as a lifelong loyalty to Llanelli's Stradey Park, he combined successful careers as a broadcaster and actor. | Afterwards, as well as a lifelong loyalty to Llanelli's Stradey Park, he combined successful careers as a broadcaster and actor. |
| He was also a member of the national eisteddfod's Gorsedd of the Bards and carried the ceremonial sword. | He was also a member of the national eisteddfod's Gorsedd of the Bards and carried the ceremonial sword. |
| On Friday, Llanelli Scarlets displayed their own tribute to the late president of the club when they wore shirts with "Grav" in gold lettering for their 59-19 win over Leeds. | On Friday, Llanelli Scarlets displayed their own tribute to the late president of the club when they wore shirts with "Grav" in gold lettering for their 59-19 win over Leeds. |
| The players wore black armbands and there was also a minute's applause before kick-off at Stradey Park. | The players wore black armbands and there was also a minute's applause before kick-off at Stradey Park. |
| An empty seat was also left in a photograph of former Llanelli players - in which Gravell was due to have been included - taken before the match. | An empty seat was also left in a photograph of former Llanelli players - in which Gravell was due to have been included - taken before the match. |