His genius for stage production gave him a glittering career. But it was as a caring and fun-loving husband, father, and son, and as a true friend to so many, that 39-year-old Sam Viney is being remembered following his death.

He lived with cancer for more than three years.

Yet even in his last months, Sam refused to let it define him, his heartbroken wife Eleanor said.

As news of the tragedy spread this week, scores of people who knew Sam took to the social media site Facebook to pay tribute to a man described by one friend as “a shining light, kind, clever, funny and brave.”

Most poignant of all was the tribute from Eleanor, 33, the mother of their seven-year-old daughter Charlotte.

From their home in Warwick-on-Eden, Eleanor spoke of her wonderful husband and of her sadness that they had only 12 years together.

“It wasn’t enough,” she said. “I was so pleased when I got to marry him; and that he gave me Charlotte, but I’m upset that we didn’t have longer together. We married five years ago in October. He was such a gentle, kind, generous person.

“I’ve spoken to people who were his colleagues. But they were also his friends and they’re devastated by this. It’s been wonderful to see the incredible respect and love people have for him.”

A former pupil at both Morton and Trinity schools in Carlisle, Sam left with three A-levels but it was seeing the rock band Pink Floyd in concert and the stage show The Phantom Of The Opera that sowed the seeds of what was to be a glittering showbiz career – in technical stage production.

Sam landed a job with Bandit Lites, the country’s second-largest professional lighting company. That allowed him to work with some of the biggest names in pop – such as Blondie, Christina Aguilera, Enrico Iglesias and Westlife.

He also found himself involved in creating sets for shows such as the Good Food Show.

In 2006 he and Eleanor returned to Cumbria.

A qualified teacher, she left her job to work with Sam as his reputation for excellence and professionalism brought in a stream of clients. They set up SVLHire in 2009, working on some of the region’s most successful events. These have included Status Quo concerts in Whitehaven and Dumfries, all the Whitehaven Festival concerts from 2009, Ireby Festival and numerous private functions.


Sam Viney He was diagnosed with testicular cancer in Easter, 2014. The first sign of trouble was back pain but tests revealed the cancer, which had spread to Sam’s lymph nodes. He went through four rounds of chemotherapy at Freeman Hospital in Newcastle – and the treatment was successful.

But in February last year, after the family returned from a trip to Disneyland Paris, a routine test revealed that his cancer had begun to grow again. More treatment followed, including chemotherapy and stem-cell replacement. He also had surgery.

Last month doctors gave Sam the worst possible news: they told him that the cancer had returned and was spreading aggressively.

Eleanor said: “He saw the cancer as an annoyance because it stopped him doing what he wanted to do. But he wasn’t defined by it.”

At times, during his illness, Sam simply refused to stop doing what he loved.

“He had incredible resolve,” said Eleanor. “He just worked through it. The treatment was a hurdle but we’d get past it: that was his attitude.

“He was passionate about what he did. He loved it. I don’t think there was a day when he didn’t work, and that’s why people respected him and loved him. He had an excellent reputation, and could solve any problem.

“He was a lovely, lovely man.”

In an interview several years ago, Sam spoke of his excitement and joy at the imminent arrival of his and Eleanor’s daughter.

He said: “We’ve just had the first scan done and that’s something amazing... I’ve worked on some big shows – but this is going to be the biggest production yet!”

Eleanor added: “He was such a fun dad.

“He would always include Charlotte in everything.”

Sam’s dad Steve said of his son: “He was inventive, reliable, dedicated and modest.”

The funeral service for Sam, who also leaves his brother Ben, 40, and sister Jenny Finnegan, 33, will be held at Carlisle Crematorium at 1pm on Monday.

There will be a collection for Eden Valley Hospice, which provided palliative care for Sam, which Eleanor and Steve said was amazing.

They also thanked the medical staff at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital. Sam’s mother Katherine Hopkins passed away suddenly in March. She too was taken by cancer.