Our Stevie

Steven Robert Mark Walsh was born on 19th March 1976 and tragically died this year, on 14th April.  Stevie’s mum and sister wrote the following about their beloved son and brother… 

My Stevie

Steven Robert Mark Walsh was born on 19^th March 1976 weighing in at a big 10lb 8oz. A much wanted and adored son and baby brother to his sister Lindsey. I only wanted to have and raise two children but ended up looking after and caring for seven.

My best friend’s four daughters Debbie, Tammy, Connie and Lisa and my nephew Neil who was the same age as Stevie and the best of friends who came home from school one day and quite simply stayed.

All seven kids were inseparable; they ate, slept and played together with me and Hazel over seeing their happy childhood.

Stevie was born with two club feet and spent all of his first seven years at hospital until he had his corrective surgery, It was never a disadvantage to him he just got on with whatever came his way.

Time passed, he attended Whiston Road Infants, Grant Road Juniors then he went to Broardgreen comprehensive School where he excelled. From there he went onto Liverpool University where he passed with honours getting a B.S.

He could charm anyone with his cheeky scouse humour, tall dark handsome looks and the biggest dimples when he smiled. He was like his sister, My World.

From Uni he gained employment with an American company Morgan Stanley. He went to train with then in New York for three months and upon his return he moved to London to work for them on Canary Wharf. Everyone fell under his spell, making lots of friends which he brought home often for weekends. I would light up like a Christmas tree when he came home because he always made me smile.

After a couple of years working for Morgan Stanley he decided to leave and take twelve months off to go travelling. He took a crash course in Spanish and went into a village in the mountains of South America to teach poor children English. He phoned me one day to tell me about the conditions these children survived in and how amazed they were about the simple things like his watch and could I help him to get some watches for the children. With the help of our Parish Priest, Father Mark we put a plea in the church bulletin for unwanted working watches. The response was amazing, the watches came flooding in. We sent them to Stevie, the children were amazed to each have a watch of their own. Stevie touched the children of South America.

On he went with his travels Rio D Jeniro , The Galapacos Islands, Italy, China, Australia, Canada, America and so many more place where he always made friends with his personality. Many of these friends he brought home to Liverpool.

Then something in him changed, he became quiet, withdrawn. He came home to live for twelve months where I knew he was depressed from a broken relationship, I asked him to get help but he wouldn’t; he saw it as a weakness.

I held him, giving him nothing but a Mothers love and slowly he seemed to be getting back on track, so much so he decided to go back to work in London for MacQuarie Banking, an Australian company where he settled in and made more friends that fell under his spell whom he used to bring home at weekends. All the time I worried about him. No one knew Stevie like I did, no one could talk or get through to him like I could.

He said to be one day talking about things from his childhood, because he remembered so many things that I’d forgot. The thing he said was this long word that I didn’t understand so he explained the word he’d used meant that when he was growing up I’d made him feel so special and I replied that it was me just being his Mum, and he was a Mummy’s boy.

When he came home to Liverpool at weekends he used to get on my bed in a morning for a cuddle. I tried so very hard to keep him safe. He just couldn’t fight his demons and he was weary.

He had a Mum, Step-Dad and Sister who loved him. He had a big family of Auntie’s , Uncle’s and Cousins. He had a little God-Son Sam who he was so proud of. He had a big circle of friends including his flat mate Seb.

Stevie had a brilliant job, made lots of money, but nothing seemed to touch his sensitive soul.

He made me laugh, he made me cry. He also made me very proud. I am lost without him and even with the support of my wonderful husband and beautiful daughter and family I’m so lonely for him.

My Parish Priest has told me that he is now in a better place where nothing can hurt him again. He has told me that Stevie is an angel. I have to hang onto this or else how can I go on.

So to Hazel I say ‘wrap your arms around Stevie with love so you both can fly with the angels’.

I love you son. Your Mum xxxx

My Brother Stevie

My Brother Stevie was a unique person.  He was everything you would look for in someone.  He was handsome, intelligent, funny and very witty with a big heart.  He was also very opinionated and strong minded.

If anyone had the pleasure of having a conversation with Our Stevie then you may have walked away feeling slightly confused as he would often baffle you with his beliefs and knowledge.

I have learnt a little more about My Brother over the last couple of weeks and discovered that he was vulnerable and fragile but more importantly I learnt that My Brother was very brave and dignified.

Our Stevie has so many good friends who respect and care for him and a big family who love him so much.

I am very proud of My Brother and what he had achieved in his life.  Whenever we were out together I would often say to people have you met My Brother? Isn’t he handsome and look we have got the same teeth and then go on to say, but look he got the dimples!  (Stevie was not impressed with me doing this but I did it anyway).

Everyone that knows Stevie and I know that we never always seen eye to eye but one thing we did agree on was the strong love that we share for ‘Our Mum’.  Stevie adored ‘Our Mum’ and would do anything for her.

I met up with Stevie last year at the Grand National and had a great day with him.  We had a real heart to heart afterwards about all factors of our lives. I will cherish that day for the rest of my life because I got the chance to tell him that I loved him.  (He did eventually tell me he loved me too).

There are so many questions, what if’s and why’s but at the end of the day Our Stevie always did what he wanted to do and whilst I will never understand this tragedy, I just hope that he has finally found peace in his head and his heart.

I did learn one more thing this week about my Brother and that is how much I love and respect him!

I will never ever forget you Stevie.  Goodbye My Bother. Your Heart Broken Sister

Lindsey x