Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Special offer: Receive 12 issues for just £12!
Subscribe today
News

Tributes paid to "polite and kind" Big Issue vendor

Andrew Kieser, 36, sold the magazine in Bournemouth for 14 years and will be greatly missed by staff and his customers

Andrew Kieser

Bournemouth vendor Andrew Kieser

We are saddened to share the news of the death of popular Big Issue vendor Andrew Kieser.

Andrew, 36, who sold the magazine outside Topshop in Bournemouth on and off for 14 years, sadly passed away over the Christmas period.

He was described by Big Issue staff in Bournemouth as a “polite and kind” person, who was doing his best to address personal issues.

Simon Chilcott, head of service development for The Big Issue in Bournemouth, said Andrew will be greatly missed by staff, volunteers, vendors and his customers.

“Andrew was such a polite and kind individual who will be sadly missed by The Big Issue team, vendors and the many customers he had spoken to over the years. These last few years had been especially tough for Andy due to his son’s genetic condition, also his own housing issues. He was a doting father who tried his hardest to juggle life so he could spend as much time as possible with his young son.”

Simon added: “We have a lovely volunteer who bakes cakes for the vendors and one of Andy’s guilty pleasures was a slice of cake and a cup of coffee, he also loved discussing with our volunteer what cake to make next.”

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

In his My Pitch interview in The Big Issue two years ago, Andrew said he had struggled off and on with addiction, which in the past had cost him a job, relationship and home. He had sold the magazine at various times as and when he needed to, and his ambition was to spend more time with his son, who has mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome.

On a Facebook post announcing Andrew’s death his ex-partner said that their son Malachi, aged six, “loved his dad very much and his dad loved him.”

Andrew had been a keen pianist as a youngster, and had as an adult returned to his passion for playing piano, performing in church occasionally. He spoke in his My Pitch interview of his love for classical music, his favourite composer Beethoven, and recommended readers listen to Moonlight Sonata as an introduction.

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
I have arthritis, incontinence and other chronic health conditions. The DWP didn't think I needed PIP
Composite image of PIP recipient Ron Farrington and secretary of state for work and pensions Liz Kendall
Disability benefits

I have arthritis, incontinence and other chronic health conditions. The DWP didn't think I needed PIP

Asylum seekers can stay at Epping hotel after government overturns court ruling
Epping asylum hotel protesters
Asylum hotels

Asylum seekers can stay at Epping hotel after government overturns court ruling

A day inside the clogged-up asylum court at the heart of Starmer's plans to close migrant hotels
An illustration of a family waving paper at a locked door
Social Justice

A day inside the clogged-up asylum court at the heart of Starmer's plans to close migrant hotels

Could the UK government end use of asylum hotels by 2026?
Asylum hotels

Could the UK government end use of asylum hotels by 2026?

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

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue