Kelvin Gregory, 55, Somerset House, London

I’ve been selling The Big Issue at the entrance to Somerset House for a few years now. It’s a great pitch – great place, great customers, great staff. They have the ice rink here in winter, which is always popular and puts everyone in a good mood.

I have some very nice student customers from King’s College London nearby, and whenever they finish their studies I always tell them to support their local vendor wherever they’re off to.

I was born in London but my father was in the RAF and we moved around quite a bit. My nan gave me a bit of money to go travelling, and after trekking around Europe and coming back to England I developed itchy feet – always moving, never wanting to settle down anywhere.

After coming back to London about 10 years ago, I moved in with someone. But when that relationship broke down it hit me hard and I became homeless. But whatever knocks you down, you can always get back up.

Selling The Big Issue taught me interpersonal skills, how to budget and gave me confidence back at a time when I’d become quite ostracised from society. I was in temporary accommodation in south London for quite a while, which helped me get back on track, then recently I moved in with my lovely partner – a wonderful, supportive person. So things have come together and I’m finally beginning to settle down.

Selling The Big Issue taught me interpersonal skills, how to budget and gave me confidence back

Music has played quite an important role in my life. I was into punk at the end of the 1970s – Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Stranglers. Then I got into Northern Soul, then gravitated towards dance music – The Prodigy and The Shamen – and started going to raves. I would go to protests of various kinds.

As you get a bit older, I’ve not quite got the energy for it all. But I still believe in a better society. I’d like to live in a world where people are a bit more understanding of each other – a bit kinder. I think Big Issue vendors do a little bit to break down barriers. So maybe a few more people will take five minutes out to engage, whether it’s chatting to a vendor or the person next to you on the bus. It’s all about making a connection.

Favourite team… Chelsea FC. My favourite players over the years are Super Frank – Lampard – and the Drogfather, Didier Drogba.

Top band… The Who. A great band with great energy that made great albums. I think either Tommy or Quadrophenia are probably their best ones.

On my pitch… I’m at Somerset House, The Strand, 8.30am–1.30pm daily

Photo: David Tett

Somerset House, London, United Kingdom