Derek Kewley, 50, Cornmarket Street, Oxford
"I worked as a roadie for Stiff Little Fingers and Madness"
I came to Oxford a year ago, having moved around the south of England over the years. I suppose you might say I’ve been a bit of a hobo, picking up work here and there, living off the land. I’m someone who has struggled with the rat race – I find the idea of settling down a bit bewildering, to be honest.
At some point I’d like to get a roof over my head and settled somewhere because I can’t stay outdoors forever.
At the moment I’m sleeping in a tent on the outskirts of Oxford. I have a cooking stove and a torch and a little digital radio that works with batteries. I’ve had the tent for years, and I’ve got through a few winters that way.
I started selling the magazine in Oxford a few months before Christmas and it’s been going really well. It’s given me something to focus on and got me talking to people. At some point I’d like to get a roof over my head and settled somewhere because I can’t stay outdoors forever. The Big Issue has helped me head in that direction.
I really like Oxford – people here are very kind and generous. There are so many wonderful buildings to wander between – Oxford University Museum of Natural History is a particular favourite. But at heart I just love the outdoors and the English landscape. I grew up in Crawley, a new town south of London. Back then it was still very leafy and I spent all my time playing in the woods.
When I was 12, on the first day of the summer holidays, I left home and hitchhiked to Somerset and camped at Glastonbury Tor. I let my folks know where I was and they picked me up at the end of the summer. Then I did that every summer until I was 16.
I’ve walked round the south coast, the Isle of Wight and the Isle of Man. I’ve done a lot of casual labouring work on farms – tree surgery, digging ditches, clearing waterways. Whatever needs doing. I’ve also been involved with music. I worked as a roadie for Stiff Little Fingers and Madness, and I’ve done security at Glastonbury and Reading.
I couldn’t live without music. I usually have the radio on Rock FM, and that keeps me happy. I’ll keep working hard and try to make a go of it here in Oxford – I have some family and plenty of friends in the area, so it’s probably time to make this home.
My favourite band… Led Zeppelin. I loved the heaviness mixed in with the old folk element of their music. Led Zeppelin II is probably my favourite album.
My favourite place… Glastonbury Tor. I’ve been going there since I hitchhiked when I was 12. It’s a very special place – there are still some of the old pilgrimage routes around there I’d love to walk.
On my pitch… I’m at Cornmarket Street in Oxford from 9am to 7pm
Cornmarket Street, Oxford, United Kingdom