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PY - Big Issue John (OT)

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  1. kaputnik
    Moderator

    I just saw a tweet linking to the Big Issue which announced that John the Big Issue seller on the Meadows who frequented Peters Yard in the morning had passed away after a short illness.

    For those of you who don't recall him, his usual cry was "don't be shy, give it a try" and he always said hello as I cycled past. He's the one who referred to any cyclist with a helmet cam "camera boy" and who could engage you in a 40 minute discussion about the best way to use bicycle parts to customise his walker so it didn't tip over.

    Slightly OT but I think relevant as he is a familar face in the Meadows and around PY and was always pleasant to us even when having a grumble about cyclists going too fast (which I generally sympathised with) and would ask what "we" (cyclists) could do to try and have something done on the MMW junction to help reduce conflict on it.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  2. steveo
    Member

    Thats a shame, seemed like a nice chap.

    More than once prompted my that my dynamo light was still on... And on one occasion did remind me to turn off my battery light.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  3. SRD
    Moderator

    what a shame. I had noticed his absence and been meaning to ask if anyone knew where/how he was.

    He had also highlighted the missing drain cover and issues regarding lighting on MMW.

    i'll miss him.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  4. mgj
    Member

    Och, that is a shame. I hadnt noticed that he wasnt there this morning, but agree he was a lovely friendly guy. Did like his pipe though.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  5. SRD
    Moderator

    friend of mine who is a QC and, like John, had been in the territorials, said that John always called him 'Judge' as he went past. Much to his discomfiture when walking with female colleagues, who actually were judges....

    Posted 10 years ago #

  6. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    Shame indeed. He used to call me 'Colonel' as I regularly traipsed between Tolcross and Dalkeith Road in office kit.

    He declined my suggestion of a new catch-phrase (Don't be a c***, give it a punt!) as amusing but unsuitable for his customers.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  7. algo
    Member

    That is indeed sad news - he was always very friendly and it was only very recently I had a chat with him where he gave me advice about how best to secure my bike… I can't remember his other rhyme now, but he did have another with the same scansion starting "Don't be a …, ….., buy the big issue" - so perhaps IWRATS you gave him inspiration which he chose to tone down..

    Posted 10 years ago #

  8. Min
    Member

    Oh that is a shame. He has been such a fixture in the meadows for such a long time I will miss him. RIP.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  9. fimm
    Member

    I'm sorry to hear that.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  10. DaveC
    Member

    Sad news. :O(

    Posted 10 years ago #

  11. neddie
    Member

    Sorry to hear that too. Our kids used to like him.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  12. Snowy
    Member

    So sorry to hear that.

    He had a good dry wit. I was once out jogging round the meadows in an edinburgh university t-shirt; he watched my slow, middle-aged approach and his opening line was "You must be staff"...

    He'll be missed.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  13. gembo
    Member

    Sad indeed, I was coming along the meadows heading to a PY meet and he said to me disparagingly - They are all up there.

    He was certainly more verbal than the previous chap who did not sell the big issue but said to you - Have a cup. Indeed that was all he ever said.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  14. LaidBack
    Member

    My earlier post went missing.

    I bought Big Issue every week from John. In fact I sometimes paid in advance if he didn't have change. That way I could cycle down and he'd hand as I went by on way to shop (no I didn't get discount!).

    He was a decent guy once you got to know him. End of an era. John RIP.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  15. algo
    Member

    http://m.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/meadows-plaque-bid-for-big-issue-seller-john-white-1-3531007

    Posted 10 years ago #

  16. chdot
    Admin

    "The 69-year-old"

    Didn't look it.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  17. minus six
    Member

    A very early riser, was John...

    Often saw him stoically punting the issue on an empty high street before 7am

    So it goes

    Posted 10 years ago #

  18. LaidBack
    Member

    He was rightly very proud of the fact he made it onto the 'your vendor' page in the mag. He got some cards made up of the page - still have one.
    Recently he wasn't out at his spot as much but shrugged off enquiries last time I saw him. Guessed things were not so good. He also tried another short term pitch up at Lawnmarket near court a few months ago but his home was that corner of the Meadows.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  19. fimm
    Member

    "Councillor Donald Wilson, the Lord Provost, said he was sorry to hear of the popular vendor’s death.

    He said: “It is clear that John’s spirit boosted Big Issue sales in the Meadows, and through his role he raised countless funds for its charities.” " (emphasis mine).

    A bit of a misunderstanding of how the Big Issue works there - it isn't raising money for charity. The vendor buys the magazines for £1.25 and sells them for £2.50. They are responsible for what they do with the profit. The idea (to quote the Big Issue) is "a hand up, not a hand out".

    I buy the Big Issue from a chap outside Haymarket station. A couple of weeks back there was someone different on the pitch - I was quite relieved when the usual chap reappeared!

    Posted 10 years ago #

  20. SRD
    Moderator

    It just isn't the same cycling through with him not there.

    Was thinking that one problem with that spot is that it's not got a good name. we call it 'intersection of NMW and MMW' but most people don't know NMW. Or we say 'bottom of MMW' which people understand, but which is actually incorrect.

    So, how about we rename it 'John's Spot' ? or Pitch?

    Posted 10 years ago #

  21. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    Ah, Gembo, the gentleman known to me as Huppacup used to be very much more eloquent. Listened to test cricket on the radio and engaged you in conversation before inviting you for tea. Went downhill, became monosylabic after a beating that left his head twice the usual size. I still miss him a bit.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  22. jdanielp
    Member

    This certainly is not "good news" as I remember that he would shout along with his usual catchphrase and I also received a healthy number of "morning"s over the years, which I would respond to with a "morning", smile or nod when I wasn't busy negotiating the MMW junction traffic.

    I don't think I ever stopped to talk to him I'm afraid to say, although I had noticed his absence in the last week or so and it's sad to hear the unexpected news :(

    Posted 10 years ago #

  23. SRD
    Moderator

    I always got 'Morning young lady" :)

    Posted 10 years ago #

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