Much loved Big Issue vendor set to retire after 12 years
EASTON CHRISTIAN WAS HELPED BY BIG ISSUE TEAM TO APPLY FOR HIS STATE PENSION DURING LOCKDOWN
A MUCH loved Big Issue vendor is retiring after 12 years selling the magazine across London.
Easton Christian started selling The Big Issue in 2008 at his White City pitch where he became a popular face among BBC staff who worked nearby.
Now over 12 years later, with the help of The Big
Issue team, Easton was able to apply for his state pension during the lockdown and enter into retirement.
The 66-year-old spoke to MyLondon about his extensive career with The Big Issue and life now that he’s retired.
“It’s like I’m on holiday everyday,” Easton said.
He added: “I didn’t think I could retire, I thought I’d have to do this everyday. Because of the pandemic I’ve stopped working and I’ve had to sign on.”
Mr Christian, who was born in Jamaica and came to London when he was 14 years old, said he found out he was due for his pension in 2019 but decided he would continue working until he was at least 67.
However after returning to his White City pitch following the first lockdown, Easton said he couldn’t even sell 10 magazines in a week. He’d usually sell more than 10 a day easily.
Easton first became homeless into 2002 after returning to the UK from Jamaica and was unable to find work. His dad passed away which left him with nowhere to go.
He found out about working for The Big Issue through St Stephen’s Church in Islington and from there started his career in 2008.
Mr Christian set his sights to sell as many many copies as he could. Still sleeping rough in a church doorway in Islington, he said he would get up 4am to go to The Big Issue office in Vauxhall and pick up magazines to sell until as late as 10pm.
He sold across Islington, Hackney and the West End before settling in White City.
During the last lockdown, The Big Issue was able to support vendors with payments over this period due to the incredible generosity of members of the public and businesses.
The magazine is again asking the public to support its vendors through The Big Christmas Appeal, a campaign which involves readers taking out a subscription for the publication and/ or buying Christmas gift subscriptions from their local vendor to purchase as gifts for friends and family this Christmas.
Mr Christian, who lived in Notting Hill in the 1970s, now has a flat in Hackney where he’s looking to the future of retirement as an active member of Frampton Park Baptist Church.
He said: “I don’t have any plans to do anything, I just enjoy the time as it is. I give glory to God for the blessings.”