by Hayley Robinson

After digging more than 500 plots over 34 years, a grave digger’s work has been recognised nationally.

Bernard Underdown was crowned Grave Digger of the Year at the Good Funeral Guide Awards which were held in Bournemouth.

The 71-year-old, of Church Lane, Newington, who attended the ceremony with his wife Ann, their son Philip and his wife Tracey, was presented with a miniature coffin.

It is the first time the not-for-profit independent guide has run the UK-wide competition, with members of the public voting in a variety of categories.

The grandfather of eight said: “I was quite surprised when I got it - I didn’t even know an award for it existed. We’re going to put it in a glass case and it will go on a wall at home.

“It’s got around the village and I’m surprised how many people know I’ve got it. I’ve had people saying congratulations and well done you deserve it.

“I take pride in my work. I won’t go down there and fill in a grave until everyone is out of the car park, you have to show your respect.”

Mr Underdown started digging graves in his spare time while working as a finishing foreman at the old Sittingbourne Paper Mill.

He carried on with the work when he was made redundant from the mill in 1996.

He said: “I used to look after the cemetery and cut the grass at Newington church and it snowballed from there. They wanted someone to dig a grave and I thought I’d give it a go.

“It depends how many I get. Sometimes I don’t even get one sometimes I’ll get three or four. I’ve just had to turn some down because I had too many.

“It all depends where you’re digging as well how long it takes, it can take four hours for a normal one or two days if the ground is all flint.

“It’s hard when you get a child’s coffin but it’s a job and someone has to do it.”

Wendy Godden-Wood, the manger and director of Deerton Natural Burial Ground, Teynham, put Mr Underdown forward for the award.

The company employs him on a part-time basis.

She said: “He does a good job. He’s very much appreciated. When people come to the graveside it has to look perfect and it does, it looks beautiful.

“Some people when they come and visit a loved one they get distressed and cry and he will stand and be with them and calm them down.

“We only have one burial a day so people burying their loved ones can have as much time as they need. Some stand listening to music or drinking whiskey or champagne so it means Bernard has to be prepared to sit in the car park and wait to fill the grave in and he does.

“We gave him champagne and chocolates to celebrate.”