Tribute to Steven Butler following death from neuroendocrine cancer

Steven Butler, of Whitehaven, died last month following a battle with neuroendocrine cancer, which affects the cells that release hormones into the bloodstream (neuroendocrine cells).

The 38-year-old shift team leader at Sellafield had been keen to raise awareness of the rare cancer, which can be difficult to diagnose.

Steven Butler when he cycled to Paris for a charity bike ride in 2016 (Image: Family handout)

Paying tribute to him, his wife, Rebecca Butler, said: “He was kind, brave, loyal, he had a dry sense of humour. Once he set his mind to something, he would stick at it.

“He was just an all-round great person. Throughout this whole journey, he was doing a university degree. He kept going, throughout his illness.”

Just a few months before he passed away, Steven achieved a 2:1 degree in waste management and decommissioning at the National College for Nuclear, and would have graduated at the University of Cumbria last week.

Rebecca said: “That shows the person he was. He was determined. He just got on with it. He was courageous. It showed throughout his battle with cancer.”

Steven grew up in Egremont and attended Orgill Infant and Junior Schools and then Wyndham School.

He was a keen rugby player when he was younger and played for Egremont Rangers. He still enjoyed going to Twickenham with friends every year to watch the rugby.

Steven Butler walking his dog, Gordon, in Northumberland (Image: Family handout)

Steven was in a band called Mama Sang Blues Band, playing bass guitar. It was while he was playing at an all-day Blues festival at the Copeland Athletics Stadium in 2015 that he met Rebecca. Steven had approached her afterwards and said he had seen her while he was playing.

The couple were married at Penrith Registry Office in April 2021 and celebrated with loved-ones at a vow renewal and party held at the Lodore Falls Hotel in September 2022.

Leading up to his diagnosis in January 2021, Steven had experienced pain in his stomach area in in the summer of 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic.

He went for a scan and was then referred to the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle where he received treatment throughout his illness.

Steven Butler enjoying a skiing holiday (Image: Family handout)

Steven and Rebecca had both been on the committee for the Stronger Together cancer support group based in Whitehaven. Rebecca then went on to set up the West Cumbria Cancer Carers Weekend Support Group in the hope of reaching more working-age people affected by cancer.

When asked how she would like Steven to be remembered, Rebecca said: “Just as the lovely guy he was.

“There were so many people at his funeral. There was something his friends said that was really poignant. He had so many groups of friends – people from all different walks of life. He always made time for them all. That showed the type of person he was.”