A BLAENAU Gwent man has retired after working for more than 50 years at a family run funeral director business.

Trevor Tucker, 70, started working at TJ Thomas and Sons in Beaufort Hill, Ebbw Vale in April 1965, after meeting one of the company owner’s sons at Saint Andrew’s Church choir.

Mr Tucker began to work alongside Godfrey Thomas, 71, and his family at the funeral directors at the age of 15, becoming one of the longest non-family workers within the business.

Mr Thomas, who currently owns and runs the business with his brother Ewart, said that Mr Tucker has been a “loyal and devoted employee throughout the years”.

He said: “We will really miss him, he’s been a great help to the business.

“We do respect that he wished to retire but as long as there is a little contact that makes us very happy.

“However, Trevor will still be helping out if we really need him, which is nice.”

Mr Tucker said because he knew the family so well, any problems within the business were easily solved.

“We never had any arguments and if we had anything to say we would just say it,” he said.

“Things were very different then, it was quite difficult and very busy as people wanted open coffins in their homes.

“The funeral director business is changing, but it is changing for the better.”

Mr Tucker added as well as helping out in the business when needed, he will regularly come to visit the Thomas brothers.

“We might not work together anymore but we will always be friends,” he said.