Story

Steve loved his family and friends. Plus sailing, cycling, walking and bird watching. In April 2025 he and Lisa visited the Isle of Mull to see the puffins.

In May he started feeling unwell.

He saw his GP on 9 June and was whizzed through blood tests and scans. On 30 June he got a provisional diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. He became acutely ill on 9 July and spent 4 weeks in hospital. His diagnosis of metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas was confirmed on 25 July, at which point he was too poorly for active treatment.

He left hospital on 6 August. He was thrilled to come home but his condition deteriorated very quickly and he needed expert end of life care. On 13 August he was admitted to the Martlets Hospice. He died there on Saturday 16 August.

Steve died as he lived, efficiently, with a brilliant sense of humour, dignity and thoughtfulness towards others. He believed that he had been given extra time in which to tell us how much he loved us. He had no regrets. The day before he died, he said he had never felt happier.

Steve told us what he wanted us to do after he died. He donated his corneas. He asked for a family burial at a woodland site overlooking the sea, chosen by him. He wanted his body to turn to compost and nourish the planet.

We will hold a celebration of his life sometime in the new year, when we will have another life to celebrate. It made Steve very happy knowing that Alice and Tom are expecting a baby in December.

And Steve asked us to raise money for The Martlets, one of three hospices in the Southern Hospice Group. This mattered very much to him. He repeated his wish many times in hospital, at home and during his short stay at the hospice. He believed that everyone with a severe, life limiting illness should receive the same kind of expert care he had from the wonderful Martlets team. From the cleaners to the doctors, nothing was too much trouble. Everything was done with calmness and skill with the patient and their family at the centre. They continue to support us now.

And yet the Martlets, like most hospices, only receive 25% of their funding from the NHS. The rest has to be found from donations and other fundraising.

You can read more here.

We ask that you give what you can, in lieu of flowers or other gifts, in memory of Steve. It will help someone else get the care they need.

UPDATE: THE WALKS!

Having walked the section of the South Downs Way from Winchester to Amberley a few years ago, Steve had intended to walk the final 56 miles from Amberley to Eastbourne. Being Steve, he planned the route meticulously.

When he was ill, we came up with a way of making use of his maps and planning. He liked that.

Each of his seven walks is manageable in a day, with bus or rail links at the start and end.

You are very welcome to remember Steve by raising money for the Martlets and

● Doing a single walk with us

● Joining for multiple days, or the whole thing

● Meeting us at the finish of a walk

● Or simply cheering us on from afar!

1. Friday 3 or Monday 6 April (Easter w/e)

Amberley Rail Station to Washington (A24) 6.5 miles

2. Sunday 26 April

Washington (A24) to Upper Beeding (A283) 6.6 miles

3. Sunday 10 May