Stephen Faccenda aka Enid Whiplash 24th April 1979 - 15th June 2011

Steve was a vibrant, happy, outgoing and extremely loveable character who, at the age of 31 was diagnosed with a rare form of Brain Cancer. Despite being given just 12-18 months to live he remained positive and happy and never complained or asked “why me?” He didn’t get the 12 or 18 months we thought he might, he sadly passed away just nine months after his initial diagnosis, a brutal blow not only to his family and friends but also to his partner and soul mate.

I can never really say enough nice things about Steve and the joy he brought to people’s lives but then I am biased, I am his partner and the one he referred to as his soul mate and I was proud to say the same. I’ll tell you a little about Steve so you get an understanding of his character

Stephen was born on his Mum’s 19th Birthday in 1979, she said it was the best birthday gift she ever received and I guess she has he husband Alan to thank for that. At 6llb 8ozs he really was a bundle of joy. Three years later the family was completed with the arrival of Aaron, a baby brother for Stephen.

His younger years seem to have been pretty normal. There were no major dramas or events to give cause for concern to his Mum and Dad and his relationship with his brother was as you’d expect too, squabbling over toys or being mischievous together but forming a close and long lasting brotherly bond.

His Mum recalls Steve deciding at around 13 that he wanted a life on stage. Of course he didn’t choose the safe option. After a stint helping with various productions and playing numerous roles including one which saw him flying across stage on a fly wire like Peter Pan, Steve decided he would like more control over his creation.

With that Stephen’s alter ego was born, Miss Whiplash. A drag queen of statuesque proportions quick witted and sharp tongued who claimed to put the “ass into class”. She soon became a popular sight amongst the Manchester and Sheffield nightlife.

As work commitments grew and a shift in priorities Miss Whiplash took a rest backstage for a while, leaving Steve to focus on himself. Around this time in early 2005 Steve and I met. It was an unconventional meeting in an online chat room where we both teased and joked with other users. A plan was hatched that we should meet.

Within days of meeting Steve and I had started living together, within months we were planning to buy a home together and less than 18 months after meeting we sealed our union with a Civil Partnership. Steve said that day was the happiest of his life, I am inclined to agree.

During our first months together we both discussed our “alter ego’s” and had decided Traditional Drag Cabaret would be great fun. Our first bookings were taken and soon, we were working up to 6 nights a week. We gained professional status and started performing up and down the country at any manner of events from ladies nights and parties to pubs, clubs and corporate events but also hosting or appearing at various Gay Pride events.

Over the years our popularity grew and grew but we were still able to maintain a divide between the public persona’s of “Trouble”, (our chosen name for our act), and our home lives. Only the closest of friends were invited to know both characters in detail.
Our lives together continued along this path of working, living and socialising together until Stephen passed away on 15th June. We had become inseparable in our first weeks together and it was only his admission to hospital in September 2010 which altered this when we had to spend our first night apart.

Throughout Stephens’s life he has brought joy and happiness, smiles and laughter and above all love, to so many people.

There are far too many examples to list here but he had an ability to instantly put people at ease so they warmed to him and he took to them. Since his passing many have said, “once met, never forgotten”, this is true on many accounts.

Even after his diagnosis in September 2010 when we were forced to retire from the stage, Stephen still managed to bring joy, happiness and inspiration to those that knew him and many that didn’t, through his truly moving and honest blog.

Stephen wanted to continue to help people even after his death which is why we are here today. I am continuing Stephen's blog and have already started to hear stories of how he has influenced and helped other Brain Tumour patients. Enjoy your memories, take a look around this site and keep reading.

Thank you,
Mark x

Thanks to Angie Wynne for some beautiful
  pictures used throughout this website.