Wolverhampton Civic Hall picked for Steve Evans' funeral

The 52-year-old died last week after living with stomach cancer for more than two years.

In that time the retired building surveyor gained more than 26,000 followers on Twitter and become a star guest on TV and radio shows as he talked about his condition.

The service on February 3 at 12.30pm will be the first time in the 75-year history of the Civic Hall that it has been used for a funeral. A huge turn-out is expected.

Steve, who was a comedian and magician in his spare time, inspired people all over the country with his attitude to cancer and his incredible good sense of humour as he faced life with a terminal illness.

He became a media star after appearing on Richard Bacon's programme on Radio 5 Live and as a guest on the BBC's Breakfast programme.

Now his family, including daughters Megan and Lauren, are preparing to share his funeral with hundreds of well-wishers at the Civic Hall, where Steve spent a decade working at gigs, looking after some of the big-name comedians who would perform there.

And when he retired, more than 450 people came to his leaving party.

His wife of 28 years, Septina, said: "I don't think we'd be able to get everyone who wants to come into a church.

"We had hundreds come to see Steve when he retired and that was before everything in the media and on Twitter.

"Steve courted this. He did it to help people to be able to live with the fact that they had cancer.

"He was a showman and was happy doing everything he did."

Steve died in New Cross Hospital last Thursday.

A fund set up in his honour by his friend Sue Oakley has already raised more than £6,000 in aid of Compton Hospice.

Steve's youngest daughter Lauren, aged 21, has said that flowers are welcome but that her father would also have appreciated donations to the hospice.

Anyone who wishes to make a donation in honour of Steve can follow do so here

See also:

• Donations flood in to Steve Evans' hospice fund

• Farewell Steve Evans, you did us proud

• Brave Steve Evans will never be forgotten

• Nine inspiring tweets from brave Steve Evans

• We draw strength from Steve Evans' fight

• I’ve been lucky says brave Steve Evans in last interview