Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Reader-supported journalism that doesn’t just report problems, it helps solve them.
support today
News

Much-loved Covent Garden vendor Roderick Mackillop has died

The 57-year-old is the fourth London seller to die in the space of four months

Roderick Mackillop

We are saddened to announce that veteran London vendor Roderick Mackillop has died.

Roderick was a familiar sight along Long Acre in Covent Garden, selling the magazine on different pitches on the central London street for many years.

He died on Saturday. At this time the cause of his death is unknown.

Originally from Scotland, the 57-year-old was a committed Big Issue vendor who described returning to pitch after the Covid-19 lockdown as “the best news he had ever heard”, according to Lauren Neale, The Big Issue’s London sales and operations manager.

“Roderick very much kept himself to himself but he was a very nice and unassuming guy,” she said.

“He was best friends with another one of our vendors Roger and our local franchisee. I spoke to him a lot during lockdown and when I told him that we were coming back he told me that it was ‘the best news he had ever heard’.

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

“I think that underlines just how much he enjoyed selling the magazine and speaking to his customers. We will miss him dearly.”

Roderick is the fourth London vendor to die since lockdown. The Big Issue understands that none of the deaths were related to Covid-19.

Jimmy McMahon passed away in June just before vendors returned to the streets while Eric Pelly died last week following a long battle with cancer.

Dave Julian
Dave Julian
Veteran seller Dave Julian was found dead at home, his family told The Big Issue

Long-term vendor Dave Julian, 54, also died on August 3. He was a well-known face outside the Canada Goose store on Regent Street and the Phoenix Theatre in Charing Cross.

The Big Issue would like to pass on our condolences to each vendor’s family and friends.

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

READER-SUPPORTED SINCE 1991

Reader-supported journalism that doesn’t just report problems, it helps solve them.

Recommended for you

View all
Cost of living payments: Where to get help in 2025 now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
Cost of living crisis

Cost of living payments: Where to get help in 2025 now the scheme is over

Glasgow council knew this building was dangerous for years. Its collapse left people homeless
building on albert drive collapse in glasgow
Homelessness

Glasgow council knew this building was dangerous for years. Its collapse left people homeless

Architecture trailblazer Muyiwa Oki on building for tomorrow, AI and the race for net zero
Royal Institute of British Architects president Muyiwa Oki
Architecture

Architecture trailblazer Muyiwa Oki on building for tomorrow, AI and the race for net zero

These people re-traced Charles Darwin's voyage around the world. This is what they learned
Darwin200

These people re-traced Charles Darwin's voyage around the world. This is what they learned

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payments: Where to get help in 2025 now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payments: Where to get help in 2025 now the scheme is over

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know
4.

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know