A RHYL man is hoping to “serve the community” after opening his own funeral directors in the town.

Andrew Williams, 56, has worked in the funeral industry for more than a decade and felt now was the time to provide his own services after seeing a property available on Grange Road.

The former Emrys ap Iwan pupil previously worked in the property industry and got a job in funeral directing with Morris Funeral Directors on the recommendation of a friend in the industry.

He found it was a fulfilling line of work and remained there for 10 years until last November when he decided to start Grange Funerals.

“It is a very rewarding business as you are helping people at time when they’re struggling most,” he said.

“You are helping to ease the situation and the bereavement process and give the best support possible.”

Andrew, whose funeral director is called Grange Funerals, said he already has the contacts he needs including suppliers, florists, registrars, crematoriums and cemeteries in Denbighshire and Conwy.

He is also well-known in Rhyl and nearby towns and hopes this will enable him to run a stable business.

“We are trying to be traditional but also have the freedom to do whatever families need and want, to tailor-make the funerals for the families and spend as much time with them as they need,” he said.

“Funerals are often tailor-made these days to the loved one who has passed away, rather than a conventional service and we will encourage families to have what they want.”

The funeral industry has faced significant changes over the last year following coronavirus restrictions on services while gatherings cannot go ahead, which Andrew recognises has been difficult for many families.

“The pandemic has been a real big change and it has restricted all of us but we have to follow the guidelines of not mixing and social distancing,” he said.

“We will be taking bookings over the phone, we can meet one or two members from the same household under the distancing rules. This does prove difficult and it must be so upsetting for families as they cannot have the volume of people that would usually be going to services.

“They are also not able to have get-togethers after the funeral has taken place. A lot of families are thinking of having memorial service at a later stage.

“I hope that we will have more of these because the lives of loved ones should be celebrated.”