Michael Brett, Salisbury Library

Photo: Susan Lomax

I’ve been doing Big Issue for years – I used to do it in London and then I came over to Salisbury. It’s alright here. The people here are kind enough – they buy you coffee and all that and give you chips every now and again. I have got quite a few regulars and they are there if I need it. It’s good enough.

I’ve been on my pitch outside the library for a couple of years. I don’t really shout out “Big Issue” when I’m on my pitch. I got told you’re not really allowed to shout it out any more. I don’t do that. I keep my mouth shut and if people want to buy it then fair play to them. I’d like to say thank you to my customers.

I started selling Big Issue because I was homeless and all that. I was sleeping out on the streets in London, so I came to Salisbury and then I was sleeping on the streets down here as well. It’s what put me back on to selling the magazine. 

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I’m off the streets now. I live in a hostel. The staff there support you and do everything. They make appointments for you at the dentist, the doctors, the opticians if you need it. It’s pretty good. It’s a roof over my head. It’s better than being on the streets. I prefer being in than on the streets. 

The hardest thing about being on the streets was trying to survive and not having enough money to get what you need and everything like that. That was the hardest part. 

Big Issue helped me do that. It picked me right up. Meeting people and having chats is what I enjoy about it. Being polite – it doesn’t cost much to be polite to anyone. 

I’ve just turned 58. I had a couple of drinks to celebrate but that’s one thing I won’t do – drink while selling Big Issue. It’s rude to other people. I always take my Big Issue jacket off before I have a drink anyway. I treat it like a job and want to be professional and I’ve always been like that, even when I was in London, I was the same.

I like going to football when I’m not on my pitch. I’m a Chelsea fan. It’s been a weird season, but it’s been like that for everyone. I also like doing cars up and working on them. My brother has got a little car park down where he lives so I take cars there and do them up. I used to work in scrapyards and that’s what got me into it. I just finished putting a gearbox in a BMW the other day.

I prefer it in Salisbury rather than being in London to be quite honest, even though I am from London originally. It’s quiet. It’s not like London. It’s too fast and furious for anyone in London now. 

I don’t really have any great plans for this year – I’m just taking life as it comes.

Interview: Liam Geraghty

Salisbury Library, Market Walk, Salisbury, UK