The Welsh public will get their chance to pay tribute to former First Minister Rhodri Morgan, who sadly passed away aged 77 on Wednesday May 17.
Mr Morgan, who led Wales from 2000 to 2009, will have his life celebrated at a funeral ceremony at 11am on Wednesday, May 31, at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay.
The ceremony will be conducted by humanist celebrant, and former AM, Lorraine Barrett and the public are invited to attend.
Following the funeral ceremony at the Senedd there will be a service of committal at the Wenallt chapel, Thornhill Crematorium the following day on Thursday, June 1 at 2pm. Again, all are welcome.
People wishing to attend the funeral ceremony at the Senedd are advised to arrive early to allow for security checks to be carried out. The Senedd will be open from 9.30am. Space in the building will be limited, however, the service will also be relayed outside via speakers and on online via Senedd TV.
A book of condolence will remain open at the Senedd for people to pay their own personal tributes.
Mr Jones, who took up the role of First Minister in 2000, months after the Welsh Assembly was formed, is widely regarded to have brought a level of stability to the Assembly in its early, turbulent days.
He led the Welsh Labour group through two further Assembly elections, in 2003 and 2007, before relinquishing the post to Carwyn Jones in December 2009.
Mr Morgan remained a backbench AM for Cardiff West until April 2011, when he retired.
First Minister Carwyn Jones said: “Wales hasn’t just lost a great politician, we’ve lost a real father figure. In very many ways Rhodri wasn’t like other politicians, and that is why people warmed to him, trusted him and felt like they knew him so well. He was funny, clever, engaging on almost any topic and absolutely passionate about all things Welsh.”
Caerphilly AM Hefin David also paid tribute and said: “Rhodri Morgan was a fascinating, energetic, kind and thoughtful leader of our country.
“Rhodri was First Minister for nearly ten years and in that time he worked with other parties in coalition to get the best deal for Wales. The tributes from leading figures across the political divide indicate that Rhodri was well-respected across the chamber and throughout Wales. We will all miss him.”
The Welsh Conservatives, Plaid Cymru, the Welsh Liberal Democrats and UKIP have all paid their respective tributes.