'I don't fear death. I fought to save Pompey - I'm a fighter' - Trapani on double cancer battle
Mark Trapani remains intent on fulfilling his band’s Victorious commitments, a tantalising target even if doctors aren’t convinced over his recovery time optimism.
The Vagabonds are booked in for a debut appearance at the popular August festival, the fivepiece group being handed a Sunday afternoon slot on the Portsmouth Creates stage.
As lead guitarist, Trapani is relishing the opportunity to wield his Fender Stratocaster although, on this occasion, he’ll be relinquishing vocal duties in the aftermath of cancer surgery.
The 69-year-old will next month undergo a complex 10-and-a-half hour procedure to remove a 2cm growth from his oesophagus, before repositioning his stomach further up his chest, expected to confine him to QA Hospital for up to three weeks.
Having wept from his South Stand season-ticket seat following Pompey’s League One title-clincher on an emotionally-charged evening against Barnsley, Trapani does not yet know whether he’ll be well enough to attend their scheduled Championship opener on August 10.
Agony for the former Portsmouth Supporters’ Trust figure who was instrumental in keeping his beloved club alive in 2013, before taking a place on the maiden Blues board under fan ownership.
Yet he has pencilled in a cherished comeback gig at Victorious on August 25.
‘Technically, being retired, I suppose I’m a professional musician these days, which sounds very grand. Although I’m not that good, I just love playing music,’ he told The News.
‘We were originally called the Dickensian Vagabonds, which came from dear old Joe Michalczuk, who used the phrase to describe Pompey fans when he left Express FM.
‘Now we’re called the Vagabonds and I’m playing at the wedding reception of a Pompey fan at the Groundlings Theatre two days before my operation. When I return, I’m desperate to get fit for Victorious.
‘That’s my target, even though I have been told it’s stretching it, but they’ll know more after my operation.
‘They say I may have difficulty talking afterwards, there’s a cancerous growth on the oesophagus which is quite high up. I probably won’t be able to sing at that one, while I may have to play the guitar seated.
‘I found out about my cancer 10 weeks ago. The only sign was struggling eating bread and certain other things, it gets stuck down my throat.
‘Still, it’s got to be done, get it out, stitch me back together, please. I may be quite hoarse for a while and I will lose about three stone, which I can afford. My meals will no longer be large, but children’s portions of food.
‘It’s a big operation and they seem to be quite optimistic. They have a good track record of positive results.
‘Do you know what, I’m not worried about death. When it happens, it will happen - and if it’s as calm and as pleasant as my previous experience of it, then I’m not worried.’
Trapani spent 40 years as group managing director of Snows BMW, overseeing 50 businesses. Those connections saw him enlisting with the Trust to battle to prevent Pompey’s liquidation at the High Court in April 2013.
Yet, after retiring in 2019 at the age of 65, ill-heath has hindered him and, since 2022, he has also been fighting prostrate cancer.
While in 2020, Trapani suffered a heart attack while sleeping at home - only to be saved by Dante, his West Highland Terrier.
He added: ‘I was in bed at 3am and drifted into a cardiac arrest, which is the strangest of experiences. I can only describe it as a tunnel made of highly polished and tinted glass and I was travelling down it. I suffer with tinnitus and was conscious I no longer had this buzzing and ringing in my ears, it was silent.
‘Where I was heading to goodness only knows. In the distance was a very small light, getting closer and closer. The next thing I know, Dante had jumped onto my face. There was no licking, but his movement brought me to. Suddenly I