Andy, 57, Southampton Central Station

I’m the only seller on the South West Trains network who’s allowed to sell outside the station. The staff trust me.

I know the area really well and can help people go where they want – the hospital; to find a B&B. I even know the train times and platforms. Some of the lads here joke I should get a job in customer services.

I joined up as an airman when I was 17 and worked as a steward in the officers’ and sergeants’ mess. I progressed really quickly and nine years later I was sergeant myself, with 60 staff working for me. I was married. I had two children, a good family. We had a daughter born with a deformed heart. She died two days later. It got to me in a big way and I couldn’t handle it. I don’t think I ever got over it.

After that, I left the services, got divorced and ended up in Southampton. That’s when everything changed.

Southampton is a fantastic place if you’re homeless. There’s a lot of support – it’s very good. When you start selling The Big Issue, obviously you’re under pressure and everybody needs all the help they can get. This has been a very rewarding part of my life, in terms of learning what people are like, how nice they’ve been to me.

When I first moved into my little flat, it was like, ‘Do you want some blankets, do you need a quilt, some plates, crockery?’ I pretty much got given everything I need. Considering these people hardly knew me, it just shows how kind people can be.

I’m grateful for having my life back. People have suggested me branching out, getting a market stall. I mean, I love selling. I’ve learnt that skill and really enjoy it. In the future I’d like to travel around, to teach people how to sell, give them confidence. I’d love to be doing that, but the most important thing to me is keeping happy.

Andy was talking to Matt West