Stephen Helliwell - Trains4u

[Trains4U]

It is with great sadness, that I must announce the death of Stephen Helliwell, co-owner and founder of Trains4U following a short, but hard-fought battle with lung cancer.

He was born in Halifax in 1947 and had a long career in the IT industry, specialising in payroll and personnel systems.  There is a good chance that many of you reading this have been paid using software he has worked on at some point in the past.
He married Kath in 1977 and after living and working in Lancashire, Hampshire, and Essex, he moved with his family to Peterborough in 1998, working for a local software company.

In 2004, he decided to leave (or maybe I talked him into it) the world of IT behind, and start a joint venture with me, selling model railways in Peterborough under the name of Trains4U.

Steve was the face of the business for many years, often running the shop single handedly and he is well known by most of our established customers.

In later years, as Trains4U expanded, he stepped back from the shop floor to spend more time at home and to focus on the finances of the business.

Sadly in April this year, he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.   The cancer was extremely aggressive, and despite treatment, he sadly lost his battle in the early hours of the 24th August.

Steve wasn’t just my business partner.  He was my Dad.  He was my counsel, my sounding board and a very dear friend and I am going to miss him tremendously as we all will at Trains4U.

Steve is survived by his wife Kath, his daughters, Tracy and Katherine, and his son Gareth.


Trains4U currently remains open as usual and is being well looked after by our dedicated staff, and will continue under my sole ownership.   Please accept our apologies if there is any disruption or inconvenience over the next few weeks whilst we find our way through this.

If anyone would like to attend Steve’s funeral, please get in touch via email at info@trains4u.com (or personally if you have my contact information) and I will keep you informed of the arrangements.

thanks

Gareth Helliwell
Director
Trains4U

[Graham_Muz]

So shocked and sorry to hear this news.  My condolences to all his friends, colleagues and family.  Stephen was always a true gent and I always enjoyed chatting with him. 
RIP, he will live on in the hearts and memories of all his life touched. 

Edited August 24, 2023 by Graham_Muz

[AY Mod]

I am very sorry to hear the sad news Gareth. Our thoughts are with you and the whole family, friends and colleagues.

 

I had many enjoyable chats with him over the years and I will remember him with fond respect.

[Revolution Ben]

 

Hi Gareth,

 

I am so sorry read this.  It was always a pleasure to see your Dad when walking into the shop and he had the kind of laid back, easy going charm that made him very easy to talk to and I am sure helped contribute to the success of Trains4U with its customers, aside from his business and financial expertise.

 

Sending deepest condolences to you and your family, and the wider T4U gang.

 

Ben

Edited August 24, 2023 by Revolution Ben

[stewartingram]

So sorry to hear this sad news Gareth, like all the others I send my condolences. I've had many a chat with him, I may even be the one that persuaded him to "go lpg!" Always a smiling face and a friendly chat along with the good service.

Stewart

[VIA185]

My sincere condolences to you, Gareth, and all Steve's family and friends. As one of T4U's very early customers I had many a long conversation with Steve, mostly about the hobby and the ups and downs of certain manufacturers, and usually at lunch time when I had popped across to the shop for some modelling item that I needed - or to scrounge the loan of something new for review because we hadn't received a sample. He was always warm, friendly and knowledgable. (Chris Leigh)

[RedgateModels]

As I said on Facebook Gareth, so sorry for your loss, having lost my father back in March I know what you are going through. He was a great man who will be missed, not just by the family, but the wider community.