A popular 34-year-old man died suddenly after putting off getting a persistent cough checked. Stefan "Stef" Allan, a skilled painter and decorator who lived in Carmarthen, may not have known he was ill with cancer before his death, said his friend Jane Back.
Jane said Stef's death on June 11 has left a "mass of devastation" among his friends and family. She described Stef as "someone who would do anything for anyone".
When Stef was found dead at home, no one knew he had been seriously ill, said Jane. The 58-year-old added: "He'd had a bit of a cough which was a constant for some time. The thing about Stef was he would put off going to the doctor if he felt okay to go to work."
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Jane, who has been helping arrange the funeral, was told by the coroner's office that Stef had a disseminated tumour, meaning cancer cells were found in multiple parts of his body. She hopes her friend's story will serve as a message to anyone who feels reluctant to get a doctor's advice on health concerns.
Although Stef spent the last four years of his life in Carmarthen, he was born and bred in Surrey, where his heartbroken mother Irene still lives. Stef's many friends and loved ones have already hit a £4,000 donations target to cover the costs of a funeral in Surrey and any surplus will go towards cancer research.
Jane said Stef "loved his cars, loved his music and loved a pint". He taught himself to play the harmonica well and enjoyed jam sessions with friends. "I'm not musical so I used to just fetch the drinks and clap and enjoy the moment of togetherness," said Jane. "Stef loved that rhythm and bluesy, rocky sound. He was an old man in a young man's body when it came to music."
One of Stef's favourite passion projects was fixing up second-hand cars, whether repairing rust or spraying the vehicle an entirely new colour. Jane laughed: "He'd tell us, 'Look what a bargain I've got.' And we'd go, 'Oh no Stef, not another car.' He'd do it up, make it look good, and it would fall apart a few months later. He was not a man of means but as long as he could get to work on a car, play music and see friends, he was happy."
Before moving to Carmarthen, Stef worked alongside Jane painting and decorating in his home village of Horsell. "He had an amazing attention to detail, he was fearless when it came to working at a height, and you couldn't fault his work ethic," she added.
Stef enjoyed a "fresh start" in Wales, sharing a house with a friend and becoming a decorator for a company in Ammanford. He quickly became a familiar face at Carmarthen pubs such as the Drovers Arms. "He was always up for a laugh," said Jane. "I've had the most amazing response from people in Wales supporting the fundraiser. I don't think Stef truly knew how loved he was. Unfortunately it takes something like this, and he's not here to see it."
Jane hopes Stef's story will raise funds for cancer research as well as spreading the message: "If you don't feel right, don't put off getting advice." You can donate to the fundraiser here.
