The Big Issue - UK (2020-04-30)

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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The gloves are ON!

Earl’s training, Paige is

happy to spectate

46 | BIGISSUE.COM 30 APRIL-06 MAY 2020