Hundreds out for Irfon’s funeral
THOUSANDS TURN OUT FOR IRFON’S FUNERAL
THOUSANDS of people paid their last respects at the funeral of cancer campaigner Irfon Williams last week.
The 46-year-old father of five, diagnosed with advanced bowel cancer in 2014, died peacefully with his wife at his side at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, on May 30, after being nursed at his home at nearby Bryn Adda for his final weeks.
As he fought the disease, the former psychiatric nurse spearheaded a campaign which raised £150,000 for other sufferers
Nurses, doctors, consultants and politicians were among those who joined his family for the hour-long service at Bangor Cathedral, which was packed with more than a thousand mourners with a similar number listening to the service as it was broadcast outside.
Dean Kathy Jones welcomed everybody to “a celebration” of Mr Williams’ life, which he had planned with her six weeks earlier.
She said: “He wanted it to be upbeat and a celebration while acknowledging the sadness. He wanted to remember the good things, especially his love for Becky and his love and pride for his children.”
She said he was from a “closeknit family” and was well known playing and coaching football and rugby at clubs including Bangor and Llanfair Hotspurs.
She said he had a passion for mental health and working with children and always tried to keep his glass “half-full”.
He was described as “a hero and an inspiration” but “very unassuming”.
“The impression he has made on so many people has been immense. He didn’t plan media attention. He wanted to make right what he saw as unfair,” she said.
After his diagnosis, Mr Williams, a former manager with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (Camhs) in North Wales, and his wife Rebecca, also a psychiatric nurse, formed #teamirfon to raise awareness of mental health while living with cancer.
With the help and support of people across Wales and the North Wales NHS charity Awyr Las, they managed to raise £150,000 towards wigs, complementary therapies and counselling for sufferers
Mr Williams also formed his campaign Hawl i Fyw, winning the right for cancer patients in Wales to be prescribed Cetuximab, a drug that he had to move to England to access.
After his death, Mrs Williams spoke of her anguish at having to share the news of her “adored” husband’s passing.
She said: “In his final weeks he has been nursed at home surrounded by those who love him. There has been no battle lost to cancer. His body became tired but his mind was as strong as ever until the end.”
At the end of last year Mr Williams, whose brother Arwyn, a father of two, died after an epilepsy attack 14 years ago, received the devastating news his cancer had spread to his lung and abdomen.
Mrs Williams added: “Throughout, Irfon faced his illness with courage and dignity. A gentle person, Irfon never complained and always used his situation to help others.
“He pushed his body to the limit to accept any treatment that would buy him as much time as possible.
“Every second counted for Irfon, who was so full of life. For anyone who knew Irfon, life was always fun when he was around.”