Bob Sheppard, Co-op, Clarence Place, Bristol
Bob recently returned to his pitch after treatment for cancer. He's feeling much better now, so next on his wishlist is to visit his granddaughter
Image: Hattie Greenyer
I started treatment for prostate cancer last February/March time. I’ve been having radiotherapy that is much kinder to me and it looks like it’s gone. I haven’t had that news from the doctors yet but I think it’s gone anyway. I’m not having to go to the toilet every night. My own body says it’s gone, I do believe that if you’re in tune with your body then you’re usually dead-on.
In terms of selling the magazine, it’s been hard. I’ve had to go back and forth to the hospital at different times, it was stressful. I didn’t get much help to get there but because I’ve been on PIP (personal independence payment) I’ve been able to get the odd taxi there. I’ve heard a bit about what the government has been doing on PIP and I don’t know too much about it. I heard that the government has watered it down really quite badly.
If PIP had been cut in the last year while I was going through cancer treatment, I would have had to apply for loans from ESA, which is not good. Without that money from PIP to get taxis, I would have been fucked. I live a few miles out of town and it was like, would the taxi turn up? Would it not turn up? If you turn up late then you get to the hospital and they are blaming you rather than the taxi.
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I haven’t really been selling recently but I’m in the office now looking for a pitch that’s close because I can hardly walk. But I don’t want to go to a pitch on a mobility scooter. I last sold at the Co-op in St Anne’s but I need to be closer. Selling Big Issue gets me out of the house to talk to different people and get different perspectives on life. That’s what I do.
In the future I want to meet my lovely grandchild. She’ll be three and a half now. She’s up in Mansfield so getting up there is difficult but I’d love to see her. I haven’t seen her yet. I’ve spoken to her on the phone but I haven’t seen her and had proper human contact. That’s something I’m hoping for. It’s something I’ve been thinking about while I’ve been having treatment.
I didn’t make it to Glastonbury the other weekend but I went there for the first time back in 1978 when I was in the army. Me and a few friends used to go there and have a good time and then head back. I’ll never forget it: I was heading back to the camp when somebody offered me a cup of tea, which I accepted, and she said: “Why don’t you come with me around Bristol?” I just had fun there.
I’ve been about a little bit and in the Eighties I used to take my son with me. As far as I’m concerned now, it’s totally different. It’s hard to get tickets and you see it on TV and it’s unbelievable to me. They’ve turned it into a corporate event.
I don’t ask for much, to be honest. I just ask for food to eat and for my customers to listen and understand. I started selling Big Issue in 1994. I got the number 005 – I wish it was 007 but unfortunately I didn’t get that! I still believe in what Big Issue does, it supports loads of people.
I’m due for retirement in August. I’ll still go out and about with Big Issue, get a little bit of money, but talking to people is so important. If I was stuck in my flat I wouldn’t have anybody to talk to. So Big Issue is a big thing for me. They’re even helping me sort out my pension next week.
Interview: Liam Geraghty
Scroll to the map below to see Bob’s pitch location.
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Co-op Food - Bristol - Clarence Place, Clarence Place, High Kingsdown, Bristol, UK
