Advertisement
CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: Just £9.99 for the next 8 weeks
SUBSCRIBE
News

Much-loved Big Issue vendor John Hill has died

The Glasgow seller died in October at the age of 42

John Hill

Popular Big Issue vendor John Hill has been remembered for his “love, kindness and conscientious spirit” following his tragic death.

The Glasgow seller, who sold the magazine on the city’s Buchanan Street up until last June, died in October aged just 42.

John will be laid to rest on Wednesday November 13 at 11.30am at Linn Crematorium in Glasgow before a wake at the Kingspark Hotel in Rutherglen with all welcome.

One of John’s regular customers, Laura Brown, spoke to The Big Issue to pay a touching tribute to the vendor, praising him for “holding his head up high”.

“John later became my friend, but before that, he was my regular and reliable Big Issue vendor from Christmas 2013,” she said. “It was my first time working in the big city, and John formed part of the landscape with his bright red tabard and armful of magazines.

He always dressed smartly and held his head high

“When I met him, he was working on Buchanan Street, which is Glasgow’s main shopping hub. Come rain or shine, wind or hail, John would be out working his pitch. He was never loud or out there. He wasn’t an all singing, all dancing vendor, but more reserved and quietly respectful, steadfast in the storm of shoppers.

Advertisement
Advertisement

“John taught me a lot about the kind of life I didn’t know about. He showed me the ice on the shoulder of the DWP when he missed an appointment with them and was unceremoniously sanctioned for weeks on end. He showed me the heat of the fire at his back when he was facing eviction proceedings from the council, and the weight of the barriers he faced to try and enter the court proceedings in an attempt to defend himself and seek mercy.

“John also taught me a lot about love, kindness and having a conscientious spirit.  John knew that working alone in the city was an opportunity for an income. He also knew it came with it risks and he weighed those up in favour of the opportunity. John faced prejudice and discrimination from the public each day.  Tempting as it was, he didn’t bite back. He always dressed smartly and held his head high.

“The biggest lesson that John taught me is that a vendor is a person above all. A person is made up of flaws, weaknesses and chinks in their well-worn armour. A person is also made of the ability to care, to love and to persist and be there for friends and family when it matters most. I look through all of my Facebook message exchanges with John over the years and realise how much we shared with each other – moans about our day to day lives and celebrations of the little things that make life worth living.

“Over time, it became easier to see that sometimes his smile was genuine, and sometimes it masked his pain and worry. What a friend. Fly high.”

John is survived by his partner, Margaret and his father, John Snr.

Advertisement

Buy a Big Issue Vendor Support Kit

This Christmas, give a Big Issue vendor the tools to keep themselves warm, dry, fed, earning and progressing.

Recommended for you

View all
Politicians and activists explain what went right – and what went wrong – for the world in 2024
Composite image of politicians Rory Stewart, Eluned Morgan and Carla Denyer
2024

Politicians and activists explain what went right – and what went wrong – for the world in 2024

Cost of buying an average home in England now unaffordable for all but very rich people
Houses on a street in England
Housing crisis

Cost of buying an average home in England now unaffordable for all but very rich people

Danny Dyer says people looked at him 'like scum' while he sold the Big Issue in London
Andre Rostant and Danny Dyer selling The Big Issue on Charing Cross Road
Our vendors

Danny Dyer says people looked at him 'like scum' while he sold the Big Issue in London

'Vulnerable' young mental health patients discharged into caravans, B&Bs and onto the street
Mental health
Mental health

'Vulnerable' young mental health patients discharged into caravans, B&Bs and onto the street

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 payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help 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