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| Thousands bid farewell to 'Grav' | Thousands bid farewell to 'Grav' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of mourners have paid their final tributes to rugby international, broadcaster and actor Ray Gravell at his funeral at Llanelli's Stradey Park. | Thousands of mourners have paid their final tributes to rugby international, broadcaster and actor Ray Gravell at his funeral at Llanelli's Stradey Park. |
| Former teammate Gerald Davies said he had a heart of gold "and he was happy to share it not just with the measured few, but with the whole world". | Former teammate Gerald Davies said he had a heart of gold "and he was happy to share it not just with the measured few, but with the whole world". |
| The flag-draped coffin was carried onto the field by six former and current Llanelli players. | The flag-draped coffin was carried onto the field by six former and current Llanelli players. |
| The former British Lion was 56 and died suddenly in Spain last month. | The former British Lion was 56 and died suddenly in Spain last month. |
| Gerald Davies, who was also a Welsh international and Lion, told the service his friend never accepted how good he really was. | Gerald Davies, who was also a Welsh international and Lion, told the service his friend never accepted how good he really was. |
| "He became a man who could inspire and did inspire without him realising the enormity of what he was doing," he said. | "He became a man who could inspire and did inspire without him realising the enormity of what he was doing," he said. |
| Stories will be told about him with gusto in years to come by people who never met him Historian Hywel Teifi Edwards on Ray Gravell (pictured) | Stories will be told about him with gusto in years to come by people who never met him Historian Hywel Teifi Edwards on Ray Gravell (pictured) |
| First Minister Rhodri Morgan told mourners: "Why was he regarded with such huge affection and respect? It was a combination of his common humanity and his almost Bambi-like vulnerability." | First Minister Rhodri Morgan told mourners: "Why was he regarded with such huge affection and respect? It was a combination of his common humanity and his almost Bambi-like vulnerability." |
| Mr Morgan said: "We politicians rate communicators, but few of us ever touch people's souls like Grav did. That is why there are so many people here today or watching on television." | Mr Morgan said: "We politicians rate communicators, but few of us ever touch people's souls like Grav did. That is why there are so many people here today or watching on television." |
| Historian Hywel Teifi Edwards told the service: "Stories will be told about him with gusto in years to come by people who never met him, and I'm quite convinced that stories were fashioned with Grav in mind centuries ago". | Historian Hywel Teifi Edwards told the service: "Stories will be told about him with gusto in years to come by people who never met him, and I'm quite convinced that stories were fashioned with Grav in mind centuries ago". |
| Folk singer and Plaid Cymru president Dafydd Iwan sang in Welsh the song "My Lord /God I Know You Will Come". | Folk singer and Plaid Cymru president Dafydd Iwan sang in Welsh the song "My Lord /God I Know You Will Come". |
| Role model | Role model |
| Mourners travelled from around Wales to attend the funeral. | |
| Rhiannon Tomos, from Caernarfon, said: "I used to be a singer when I was younger and Ray was a fan which was fantastic because he was my hero. | Rhiannon Tomos, from Caernarfon, said: "I used to be a singer when I was younger and Ray was a fan which was fantastic because he was my hero. |
| "But today is a celebration of his life. What is wonderful is that what is happening is verging on a state funeral. It's fantastic." | "But today is a celebration of his life. What is wonderful is that what is happening is verging on a state funeral. It's fantastic." |
| Nicola Phillips, 36, of Llanelli, said: "People are not mourning him, they are celebrating his life. | Nicola Phillips, 36, of Llanelli, said: "People are not mourning him, they are celebrating his life. |
| "I think he was so full of life himself he was a great role model for Llanelli and Wales." | "I think he was so full of life himself he was a great role model for Llanelli and Wales." |
| Current Scarlets players formed a guard of honour at the ground | Current Scarlets players formed a guard of honour at the ground |
| The public ceremony followed a private service at Gravell's home at Mynydygarreg, near Kidwelly. | The public ceremony followed a private service at Gravell's home at Mynydygarreg, near Kidwelly. |
| The cortege then set off, with a Welsh flag draped over the coffin. There were three roses on top from his wife Mari and daughters Manon and Gwenan, aged 11 and eight, and white flowers spelling "Dad". | The cortege then set off, with a Welsh flag draped over the coffin. There were three roses on top from his wife Mari and daughters Manon and Gwenan, aged 11 and eight, and white flowers spelling "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 were scarlet and red roses, again drawing on Gravell's connection with the Scarlets. |
| In the ground floral tributes included a rugby ball with the name "Grav", a shamrock and the flag of 15th Century Welsh warrior Owain Glyndwr. | In the ground floral tributes included a rugby ball with the name "Grav", a shamrock and the flag of 15th Century Welsh warrior Owain Glyndwr. |
| The scoreboard at the town end of Stradey had the score, in Welsh, 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 had the score, in Welsh, Llanelli 9 - New Zealand 3, reminding mourners of the great victory on 31 October 1972 in which Gravell played. |
| Swordbearer | Swordbearer |
| A guard of honour from the current Llanelli squad and another from the players of that 1972 team met the coffin, which was taken into the dressing rooms for a private service before the public memorial began outside. | A guard of honour from the current Llanelli squad and another from the players of that 1972 team met the coffin, which was taken into the dressing rooms for a private service before the public memorial began outside. |
| 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 Quinnell and Delme Thomas. | 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 Quinnell and Delme Thomas. |
| 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. | 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. |
| It is the first time the sword has been used without the Gorsedd of the Bards being present. | It is the first time the sword has been used without the Gorsedd of the Bards being present. |
| Gravell's coffin was placed on a stand on a red carpet on the pitch he loved so much and Robyn McBryde, with the eisteddfod sword, stood at its head. | Gravell's coffin was placed on a stand on a red carpet on the pitch he loved so much and Robyn McBryde, with the eisteddfod sword, stood at its head. |
| Mourners began queuing outside Stradey early on Thursday | Mourners began queuing outside Stradey early on Thursday |
| The service, which included the Welsh hymns Calon Lan and Cwm Rhondda, was conducted the Reverend Meirion Evans, a former archdruid and personal friend of Gravell. | The service, which included the Welsh hymns Calon Lan and Cwm Rhondda, was conducted the Reverend Meirion Evans, a former archdruid and personal friend of Gravell. |
| Many of rugby's leading figures were among the mourners alongside politicians and dignitaries from all walks of life. | Many of rugby's leading figures were among the mourners alongside politicians and dignitaries from all walks of life. |
| Many members of the public dressed in rugby shirts and scarves to say an emotional goodbye, as was the family's wish. | Many members of the public dressed in rugby shirts and scarves to say an emotional goodbye, as was the family's wish. |
| After the public funeral, the cortege travelled to Llanelli crematorium for a private service for family and friends. | After the public funeral, the cortege travelled to Llanelli crematorium for a private service for family and friends. |