Dean Porter, Notting Hill Farmers’ Market, (Saturday), High St Kensington Farmers’ Market (Sunday)

Photos: Benjamin Reynolds

I’ve been selling Big Issue for a while if I’m honest. I spent time away from doing it, doing other jobs intermittently like working in factories or delivery jobs. I’ve not always been constantly doing it but I’ve been doing it for a few years. I get to meet interesting people and that’s what brings me back. I’ve met people who were pilots. I met a guy who invented the cameras that you see in cricket stumps many, many years ago.

My dog’s name is Yoda and he’s one year old. He’s sweet. He’s a bit of a gem really. He’s very shy with people. He’s a little softie. He comes to my pitch with me. Pretty much everybody knows me and him. He’s met quite a few famous people, like Eddie Redmayne. I used to sell to Emily Maitlis. So there have been many famous people over the years and many people who aren’t famous but have very interesting stories, as such.

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There’s a lady who’s one of my regulars and, until someone told me, I didn’t know who she was. But she was famous. I didn’t catch her name but she has interviewed a lot of politicians and people on CNN. I don’t watch CNN and even if I did have something like Sky then it wouldn’t be my preferred channel. I’m tired of politics really.

I’m one of those people that are tired of being called names when I express an opinion and back it up. I’ve just walked away from politics and discussing it. Some people are very toxic when they don’t like hearing what you have to say. I think, sadly, it’s one of those things where some people, even if you’re being reasonable, they don’t like you having a different opinion. They get frustrated. As a result, I just decided to start walking away from conversations like that.

I’m into cycling to get around but I do enjoy events and those types of things. I’ve done the London to Brighton bike ride twice, Ride London and the London to Paris bike ride. I also love collecting LPs. I’m trying to learn to play the tin whistle too. I have an Irish grandfather on my mother’s side so I’m trying to learn it and putting that on my YouTube channel and TikTok and things like that. I also post shorts of my chihuahua too.

I’m Tin Whistle TV on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. Most of the songs you learn are in key D, there are other keys but I don’t like those variations on the tin whistle. A lot of people don’t know actually that the Titanic song My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion, the instrument you hear right at the beginning is the tin whistle. I can only play a few basic songs – I’ve learned a portion of the Lord of the Rings songs so I’m trying to learn and take some lessons from time to time. If I could learn to get a bit better I would love to do it full time. 

At the minute I’m living in King’s Cross at a clearing house (for people who have experienced rough sleeping) and that is coming to an end so I’m going to be moving on from here. I’ve always told my customers what it was, how it works and stuff so they know I’m not at a permanent address. It’s coming up to that point where the discussion is going to happen and I guess I’ve got a bit comfortable here so it’s a bit stressful. But who isn’t stressed by moving addresses? I think we’re all used to having that to some degree. It’s one of the most expensive and stressful things.  

Big Issue has always helped me out. If I give my younger self any advice: I’d say stop being hard on yourself, it’s a little dispiriting.

Interview: Sophia Alexandra Hall

Notting Hill Farmers' Market, London, UK