Beautiful tributes to keen Bolton outdoorsman Steven Carter

Steven James Carter, 45, died in December 2025.

An inquest into his death took place this week, which heard loving tributes from his sister and mother.

Steven’s sister Helen said: “Steven was a fun-loving, outgoing character with many friends.

Steven Carter with the Walking Society (Image: Colin Liptrot)

“He was like a father to my son and close to my daughters.

“There was nothing he couldn’t fix or explain – he lived life on his own terms with a big heart.”

The mum and daughter spoke about how he was an active man who enjoyed many hobbies, such as walking and running, and riding motorcycles.

“He also loved pie and curries!” said his mother, Lynda.

Steven, from Lovat Road, Breightmet, grew up and lived in the borough.

He studied motorbike design and engineering at Kingston-on-Thames University – the only course of its kind in the country.

Steven enjoying a Cornish pasty (Image: Colin Liptrot)

This was a passion of Steven’s, his family said.

Steven’s mother, Lynda, said: “He was sociable and had friends of long-standing that he enjoyed going out with.

“He loved walking and camping and spending time with his friends.”

Though he enjoyed a drink with his friends in his earlier years, Steven was not a big drinker at the time of his death, nor was he a smoker.

The inquest ruled Steven’s death to be caused by suicide.

Police said a note had been left, and his key had been left in the outside of his door.

Steven Carter (Image: Colin Liptrot)

Detective Sergeant Wilcox, who was on the scene, said she believed this was done intentionally to allow people into his house after his passing.

Sgt Wilcox concluded: “It is just very, very sad – I’m very sorry.”

Steven had struggled with his mental health for many years, the inquest heard, and isolated himself from friends and family in the months leading up to his death.

His sister stated she believes this was done with the intention of making his death easier on them, again demonstrating his caring attitude.

Coroner Peter Sigee said: “I know that you and everyone else did all you could for Steven – even though it was a one way street, you continued trying to get through to him.”

Steven’s sister Helen offered more kind words in his memory: “He was an amazing person and he really looked after my kids.

“He was big onto motorbikes and motocross – he helped get my son into it all as well.”

Steve was well-known for being good with his hands – he could ‘fix anything’, Helen told me.

“He had a big, old blue bus that he was fixing up,” she said “he was transforming it into a camper van – he lived in it for a bit after he finished uni.

“He just had a heart of gold, and he loved my mother to death.

“None of his friends would give up on him – these were friends he’d had since he was four years old, in some cases.

Steven was one of the founding members of the Bolton Walking and Outdoors Appreciation Society alongside director Colin Liptrot.

Steven atop a mountain (Image: Colin Liptrot)

“He was a really great guy and was instrumental in the early days of the walking group, Bolton Walking and Outdoors Appreciation Society,” said Colin.

“The group was founded in 2011 by a group of likeminded friends who enjoyed walking, camping, nature and the outdoors, and wanted to set up a means of improving our own lifestyle and that other people could get involved with.”

“It wasn’t long before Steve got wind of this through mutual friends and was keen to get involved.

“From there, he was instrumental in helping to organise trips to the Lake District, North Wales, the Peak District and Scotland, as well as lots of week night walks around our local area in the West Pennine Moors.

“We all shared lots of exciting adventures together, walking locally and around the hills and mountains of the UK, plus tons of camping and hostel trips.

“Steve had a real larger than life personality. He definitely livened up a room when he walked in and there would always be banter and funny antics on any of the trips, that everybody else found hilarious. He had a pretty wicked sense of humour, and was also very kind hearted and always made sure everybody else was having a great time on walks or around the campfire.

Steven mid-walk (Image: Colin Liptrot)

“He was also inseparable from his lovely Manchester Terrier, Lil, who was as much a part of the walking group as any other member. She definitely climbed a lot of mountains and did a lot of miles in her time and loved keeping us all moving along as a group.

“The legacy of everything that Steve helped to set up is still going strong.

“Bolton Walking and Outdoor Appreciation Society doesn’t have a membership subscription, but we have a pool of around three hundred “regulars” from all over Bolton, Preston, Blackburn, Wigan and Salford who continue to get together and enjoy walking in the outdoors together. Things are a little more organised now with insurance in place and a committee to run everything, but the ethos of BWOAS is still very much in line with what Steven and the rest of us wanted to achieve originally, and so many people have managed to find a safe way to get out and exercise, meet positive people or improve their mental health through joining the outings.

“I am absolutely sure that Steve would be proud of this fact. We miss him a lot but can be thankful of all the great times we shared together and the memories that we can look back on fondly, or laugh about in a lot of cases.”