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Thousands bid farewell to 'Grav' Thousands bid farewell to 'Grav'
(20 minutes later)
Thousands of mourners are paying their final tributes to rugby international, broadcaster and actor Ray Gravell at his funeral at Llanelli's Stradey Park. An estimated 10,000 people are paying their final tributes to rugby international, broadcaster and actor Ray Gravell at his funeral.
The first mourners, many in Llanelli Scarlets shirts, began queuing at the ground hours before the service began. Mourners, many in Llanelli Scarlets shirts, began queuing at the Stradey Park hours before the service began.
Gravell's wife and two young daughters asked that those attending wear their rugby shirts or scarves. The coffin, draped in the Welsh Dragon, was carried onto the field by six former and current Llanelli players.
Past and present Welsh rugby figures are among those at the service, which Gravell wanted to be at Stradey.Past and present Welsh rugby figures are among those at the service, which Gravell wanted to be at Stradey.
An hour before the 1300 GMT service, at least 5,000 people gathered at the ground. First Minister Rhodri Morgan is among those paying tribute to the 56-year-old, who died suddenly on holiday in Spain on 31 October.
The old South Stand in front of which the service will take place filled an hour earlier with mourners, many of them young children, and more people were sitting in the North Stand. The old South Stand in front of which the service is taking place filled an hour earlier with mourners, many of them young children, and more people are sitting in the North Stand.
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The funeral cortege left Gravell's Mynyddygarreg home near Kidwelly with a red dragon flag draped over his coffin with three roses on top from his wife Mari and daughters Manon and Gwenan, aged 11 and eight, and white flowers spelling the word "Dad".The funeral cortege left Gravell's Mynyddygarreg home near Kidwelly with a red dragon flag draped over his coffin with three roses on top from his wife Mari and daughters Manon and Gwenan, aged 11 and eight, and white flowers spelling the word "Dad".
On top of the hearse were scarlet and red roses, again drawing on Gravell's connection with the Scarlets. On top of the hearse are scarlet and red roses, again drawing on Gravell's connection with the Scarlets.
In the ground floral tributes were displayed, including a rugby ball, shamrock and the flag of Owain Glyndwr. In the ground floral tributes are displayed, including a rugby ball, shamrock and the flag of Owain Glyndwr.
The scoreboard at the town end of Stradey had the score Llanelli 9 - New Zealand 3, reminding mourners of the great victory on 31 October 1972 in which Gravell played. The scoreboard at the town end of Stradey has the score Llanelli 9 - New Zealand 3, reminding mourners of the great victory on 31 October 1972 in which Gravell played.
First Minister Rhodri Morgan will be among those paying tribute to the 56-year-old, who died suddenly on holiday in Spain on 31 October. A guard of honour from the current Llanelli squad and another from the players of that 1972 team welcomed the coffin which was taken into the dressing rooms for a private service before the public memorial began outside.
Earlier this year he had had part of his leg amputated following complications with diabetes, but had quickly returned to broadcasting. Then the coffin was carried in by pall bearers from the Llanelli team of today and yesterday - Simon Easterby, Gareth Jenkins, Stephen Jones, Dwayne Peel, Derek Quinnel and Delme Thomas.
Current Scarlets players formed a guard of honour at the ground At the head of the procession were three flag bearing children, and former Llanelli player Robin McBryde, who succeeded Gravell as ceremonial eisteddfod swordbearer, earlier this year.
His funeral is open to everyone and is also being broadcast live by the BBC and S4C. It is the first time the sword has been used without the gorsedd of bards being present.
Known universally as Grav, he was one of Wales's 1970s' rugby heroes, was capped 23 times, and toured with the British Lions to South Africa in 1980. The service, which includes the Welsh hymns Calon Lan and Cwm Rhondda, is being conducted by one of his friends, the Reverend Meirion Evans, a former archdruid.
After his rugby career, he turned to broadcasting, working for BBC Wales from 1985. He also acted and appeared in films, once alongside Peter O'Toole in Rebecca's Daughters. The funeral is being broadcast live by the BBC and S4C and streamed by BBC News Online.
Memorial fund
The service, which will include the Welsh hymns Calon Lan and Cwm Rhondda, will be conducted by one of his friends, the Reverend Meirion Evans, a former archdruid.
Before the service, First Minister Rhodri Morgan said he was proud and honoured to be asked to pay tribute to the rugby legend who "would tackle a Sherman tank if it was playing for the other side".
Mourners began queuing outside Stradey early on ThursdayMourners began queuing outside Stradey early on Thursday
Former Wales and British Lion international Gerald Davies and historian Hywel Teifi Edwards will also pay tribute, while the Llanelli Male Choir and Burry Port Town Band and folk singer Dafydd Iwan will also perform. Former Wales and British Lion international Gerald Davies and historian Hywel Teifi Edwards are also paying tribute, while the Llanelli Male Choir and Burry Port Town Band and folk singer Dafydd Iwan will also perform.
Former Llanelli player Robin McBryde, who succeeded Gravell as the ceremonial eisteddfod swordbearer, was allowed to carry the sword at the head of the funeral procession.Former Llanelli player Robin McBryde, who succeeded Gravell as the ceremonial eisteddfod swordbearer, was allowed to carry the sword at the head of the funeral procession.
The pall bearers will be three players from Llanelli Scarlets, Stephen Jones, Dwayne Peel and Simon Easterby, alongside three of Gravell's sporting contemporaries, Delme Thomas, Gareth Jenkins and Derek Quinnell.
The current Llanelli squad formed a guard of honour as the cortege arrived at Stradey, and three schoolchildren were heading the procession carrying flags as it moved onto the rugby field.
A private service took place at Gravell's Mynydygarreg home before the funeral cortege left.A private service took place at Gravell's Mynydygarreg home before the funeral cortege left.
After the public funeral, the cortege will go to Llanelli crematorium, travelling along Sandy Road, Pembrey Road, Gelli Onn and down to Swansea Road.After the public funeral, the cortege will go to Llanelli crematorium, travelling along Sandy Road, Pembrey Road, Gelli Onn and down to Swansea Road.
The service at the crematorium will be strictly private.The service at the crematorium will be strictly private.
A memorial fund has been set up in his name by his family to help charities and causes close to his heart.A memorial fund has been set up in his name by his family to help charities and causes close to his heart.