Celebration: A great big week for The Big Issue!

How about a cover that celebrates a big week for Big Issue vendors – including a Cinderella wedding between a pair of vendors (they had nothing until local florists, cake makers, dress makers and more got involved); more on the great man Passenger and his busking Big Issue tour that helped vendors in cities across Britain and Ireland; or the vendor who saved a young girl AND her father from drowning who was this week named Citizen of the Year in Bath; or the innovator who brought cashless payments to the streets getting a prestigious award? What about doing it all in the style of a Stax rolling revue poster? Why like that, Paul, you ask? Why not, brothers and sisters, why not! Enjoy.

And more…

Our Letter To My Younger Self is with Caroline Quentin. She joined a chorus line at 16 to make a living to look after her stricken mother and she has something to say about poor choices in previous relationships (she used to be married to Paul Merton). Her final lines on growing old bear repeating…

John Bird considers the NHS. Stop throwing vast sums at the ill part, he urges, let’s do something earlier with prevention.

There is a town called Truth Or Consequences in New Mexico. It’s the base for commercial space flight. Adrian Lobb takes a look and speaks to David McKay, the Scot who is going to be Virgin Galactic’s chief pilot.

That’s the route to the new final frontier. Around 200 years ago a Welshman went into the old final frontier searching for a lost Welsh tribe. He didn’t come back. Turns out he was distantly related to Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Rhys. So Rhys went in search of him. This week he writes about why. Great piece.

Brendan O’Neill loves The Smiths. He REALLY loves The Smiths. As Morrissey returns he looks at why we all live in a Morrissey world now.

Sick of standard governance? Keen for a huge change in how we’re controlled? Peter T Leeson makes the case for anarchy as a way to go.

Our featured vendor telling their story in My Pitch is Hugh Palmer, working in London. He’d worked in a clothes shop for 30 years until he got made redundant. After a time out of work, he came to The Big Issue. And he’s doing very well.

Also, John Sutherland guest edits the books pages and offers guides on novels everybody should read at different points in their lives; MacKenzie gets in a twist with Bob Weide, director of Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Jane Graham salutes Benedict Cumberbatch in broadcast reviews.
And don’t forget – Vote early, vote often at the PPA Awards. Tell your friends…