The Life and Deaths of an Undertaker

The end of the twentieth century is nigh. As the world edges its way towards a new millennium, the Berlin Wall falls, a new anti-depressant drug called Prozac is unveiled, Maradona cheats at the World Cup, The Simpsons - both the cartoon and the OJ versions - dominate our TV screens, and a new-fangled innovation called the World Wide Web is tentatively launched. And during all of this time a young chap by the name of Tom Eldwin works as an undertaker in Westport, South Wales. Set in a part of the British Isles where funerals are very traditional, this is the true story of a young Englishman who takes on the challenging yet rewarding career of undertaking in what seems like a foreign country; a place brimming with a whole host of varied and fascinating characters. You will be introduced to Father Fergus O'Connor, the accident-prone Catholic priest and the Rev Norman Jones, a vicar with the perfect face and voice for any funeral. You will read about the extrovert and comical antics of funeral directors, Rhys Parry, Islwyn Thomas, and Denzil Jenkins. You will encounter Dafydd Phillips, the eccentric embalmer and Trevor Davies, the garage foreman who lives in a delusional world of his own. Then there is Connie Rees, the old lady who lives above the funeral office, and Angus, the completely cuckoo paperboy. There are unexpected difficulties too, caused mainly by working for a large funeral company who seem determined to make the job even harder than it already is. But problems aren't always the fault of a clueless corporation. Tom faces a myriad of other pitfalls too, including the dangers of walking in front of the hearse on a funeral, ill-fitting clothing issues, and 'just one of those funerals' where almost everything goes wrong. Then there are the unexpected problems created by hiring out funeral limousines to private clients and the madcap escapades at the small town funeral home in nearby Abertrefil. But as far as undertaking humour goes, these are just the first few digs of the grave. THE LIFE AND DEATHS OF AN UNDERTAKER delves into the mysteries and secrets rarely talked about in this most unusual of professions and takes you on an exhilarating journey of laughter, sadness, and self-discovery.
About the Author: Tom Eldwin was born in New Zealand but raised in the UK. He has written in some shape or form since his late teens - novels, short stories, and in particular song lyrics (or poetry when he wants to sound posh), all mostly for personal enjoyment. THE LIFE AND DEATHS OF AN UNDERTAKER is the first piece of work he's actually got serious about, hence its publication now. Apart from over twenty years spent in the world of funerals, Tom has also worked as a postman and for an aviation engineering company in New Zealand. He has two children and currently lives in West Sussex with his wife, a successful child portrait photographer. Tom can be contacted at: tomeldwin@outlook.com.