arliscomingthroughthe
Covid-19lockdownfighting.
Thepopularsellerhadbeen
duetoheadintotheringfora
charityboxingmatchtoraise
£775forCancerResearchUKin
memoryofhisdadanduncle
onMarch21.Thefightisnow
onholduntilalaterdateafter
organiserswereforcedtocallitoff.
Butthatdoesn’tmeanthatEarlhastaken
theopportunitytorelaxwhileinlockdown.He’s
beenthrowinghimselfintoatrainingregime
whileheisstuckinself-isolationtoensureheis
readyfortherescheduledbout.
He’sbeenparticipatinginonlinesessionswith
eventplannersUltraWhiteCollarBoxing,and
insistsheisinbettershapethanever.
Earlsaid:“Iwasdevastatedthatthefightwas
postponed.I’velostsomanyfamilymembersto
cancerandsomanyfriends.Iwasalsodoingitfora
personalchallengetoo.
“LivinglifethewayIhave–addictionand
streetlife–IwantedtodoittomakesureIwas
capableofdoingthissortofthingbutalsoto
showthatpeoplecanturnitaroundandcando
positivethings.
“I’vebeenlovingtheYouTubesessionsand
I’mfindingmusclesthatIdidn’tknowIhad–
I’mstartingtogeta shapeonme,ifI say
somyself!
“UltraWhitearealsomaintainingour
mentalwellbeing,andthey’retheretosupport
us.Theorganisershavebeenkeepingintouch
withusandI’vehadamessagefromthem
everysecondday.”
InthethreeyearsthatEarlhasbeenonhis
Newcastlepitchsincereturningtohisnative
NorthEastfromLondon,themuch-loved
vendorhasmadeplentyoffriends.
Andtheyhaveralliedaroundhimwhile
heisinlockdown.Earlhasreceivedfood
donationsfromhisfriendsattheLindisfarne
Festival,wherehesoldthemagazinelastyear,
aswellasthePastaStationrestaurantnearto
wherehesellsthemagazine.
Earlhasalsoreceivedfoodparcelsfromthe
localauthorityandcharities,aswellas
petfoodforhistwodogs,PaigeandMax,
fromStreetPaws.TheBigIssuehasbeen
checkinginregularlytoo,andsupportinghim
withregularfoodvoucherstotidehimover.
Earl’sbiggestconcerns,however,are
reservedforhiscustomersandhis“second
family”–homelesspeoplefromthestreets
ofNewcastlewhoarenotreceivingthe
samesupport.
“It’stestingtimesforusall.In 15 yearsof
mesellingTheBigIssueI’vebeenputtingthat
tabardoneverymorningandthemorning
afterwestoppedsellingIdidn’tknowwhatto
dowithmyself,”hesaid.
“I’vedoneprisontimeinthepastwhereI
havebeenisolatedformonths,soI’mtreating
thisasifIwasinprison,butI’mkeepingmyself
ina routine.
“TheBigIssuehasbeenintouchregularly
- Ithinkit’sabsolutelyamazingthatthey’re
continuingtosupportus,Itakemyhatoffto
them.Ifitwasn’tforTheBigIssue,notjust
mebutmanyotherpeoplewouldn’tbeinthe
positiontheyareinnow–offthestreetand
gettingonwiththeirlives.
“Youjusthavetoremembereveryday
whenyouwakeupthatyouareadaycloser
toquarantineending.Youneedtokeepthat
positivementalattitude.”
Interview:LiamGeraghty@Lazergun_Nun
vendor’s
view.
‘I’m finding muscles
that I didn’t know I had’
Keeping you up to date with
our vendors until they’re
back on their pitches
EARL JOHN
CHARLTON, 42
PITCH WAS: Central Station, Newcastle
E
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OF SUPPORT!
Earlandthemenandwomenlikehimwhosellthe
magazineappreciateyourkindwordsrightnow.
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The gloves are ON!
Earl’s training, Paige is
happy to spectate
46 | BIGISSUE.COM 30 APRIL-06 MAY 2020