Tributes to family man Stephen
SINGING CAB DRIVER AND DAD OF 16 DIES
TRIBUTES have been paid to a taxi driver who loved to sing after he died following a battle with a brain tumour.
Stephen Eccles, 52, was a well-known face in the Consett taxi circuit and was loved by colleagues and passengers.
Known for his love of singing to passengers, Stephen was famous for dressing up and decorating his taxi over the Christmas period.
Tragically, the father-of-16 died after a two-year fight with brain cancer.
His cousin, Colin Eccles, said: “He worked pretty much all the time and everyone knew him as the singing taxi driver.
“Every time someone got in his taxi he sang his heart out. He was so, so happy all the time.”
Stephen was a loving husband to his wife,
Helen, who he shared 16 children with.
Ian added: “He was just a family man, loved his family and loved his kids.
“He loved family life. He was brought up in a big family and always wanted a big family.”
After experiencing severe head pain and impaired vision, Stephen went for tests and was given the devastating news he had a brain tumour that required immediate treatment in August 2018.
Every time someone got in his taxi he sang his heart out. He was so, so happy
Colin Eccles
Stephen beat the disease but was told it had returned more aggressively.
Ian said: “He had a tumour in his brain and they removed it and it was cancer.
“It came back more aggressively, he beat it and rang the bell but was told it had come back again and it could not be cured.”
In tribute to Stephen, taxi drivers from the Consett area organised a convoy to pay their respects to his family.
Ian said: “Taxi drivers from every company in Consett pulled up and there were so many of them. It was amazing, unbelievable.
“It shows you just how loved he was and such an amazing man.”
Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the number of people who will be able to attend Stephen’s funeral on May 18 will be limited.
Ian said: “We are hoping to do something similar for his funeral and ask taxi drivers to turn out on the day.”
A fundraiser has now been set up to support his family after his death.