People / Bristol Breakfasts
Breakfast with Bristol24/7: Jack Richardson
Jack Richardson hit the national headlines after he proposed to his girlfriend who he first met when he asked her for money while begging. Martin Booth meets him for a cup of tea.
If you have walked up Park Street in the last few years, you will know Jack Richardson and his rhyming couplets. He’s been called the Poet of Park Street and has become such a fixture on the road that when the High Street of the Year Award judges were being shown around, they were introduced to Jack.
When I arrive to meet him at 2pm on a recent Tuesday afternoon, he is outside Boston Tea Party where he works selling The Big Issue seven days a week when not studying for an Open University degree in psychology and sociology. He can even be found there on Google Street View.
is needed now More than ever
A regular has already bought Jack a large takeaway mug of tea which during the course of our conversation he slowly rips apart as if performing an autopsy. When I ask him if he wants anything to eat, he chooses a ‘hippy nut bar’, but rather than eating it, midway through our chat he wraps it up in a napkin to save for later.
Originally from St Austell in Cornwall, 37-year-old Jack has lived as far south as Penzance and as far north as the Orkney Isles. He has been in Bristol for three years and has recently got engaged to Toni Robinson who he first met when he asked her for money while begging. But when Jack asked Toni for money almost two years ago, she apologised saying that she had none. Jack ended up giving her 50p so she could feed her meter enabling her not to have to spend Christmas in the dark.
This heartwarming tale was first reported in Bristol24/7 and subsequently gained national and international media attention, giving Jack’s magazine sales a well-earned boost.
Jack beams with delight: “We fell for each other, really quite quickly. And this last year has been incredible for me. Everything has changed. Essentially I’ve gone from being a tramp living in a garage, to living indoors with an amazing woman.”
Before he met Toni, he had been made homeless after leaving another relationship and having nowhere to stay, ending up sleeping in doorways and spot-begging – approaching people for money.
As we find a small table in the back garden of the cafe, Jack is greeted by name by one of the staff. He sits back on his metal seat, looks to the sky and cleans his glasses on his tabard.
“Every day you’re chasing the hamster wheel. Constantly trying to get enough for somewhere to sleep. But that means you’ve got no time trying to find a solution to getting out of the situation. And it became very difficult for a very long time for me. Then I got badged up for the Issue. And it turned out I really was quite good.”
Jack is wearing his Big Issue vendors’ red tabard. He proudly states that he is officially the second best seller in Bristol.
“I’m not afraid to make myself look a bit silly,” Jack says when I ask him what makes him a successful vendor. “Secondly, I write poetry anyway. When I’m selling the Issue I make up silly little greetings card-type rhymes. ‘When the skies are bright and blue, the weather warm and sunny, the mighty Big Issue is honest and true and alarmingly good value for money.” Just silly little things like that.
“For me, it’s about making people smile. That’s my goal. Even if they don’t buy it, if they smile or have a laugh when walking by, then they’re much more likely to be kindly disposed to you the next time. Also there are some very simple, very basic things that a lot of people neglect. Even if someone doesn’t want one, always say ‘Thanks anyway.’ Try and be positive.”
Jack has suffered from clinical depression since adolescence. He says he doesn’t respond well to anti-depressants – “they make me cascade between incredibly high and incredibly low”.
“One of the very few things to help me cope is to keep positive. Look for every bright side. Look for every silver lining.”
Jack walks back to his pitch. He puts down his bag, clears his throat and the Poet of Park Street gets straight down to business: “Nothing like the Issue in the rain or in the sun. Cover to cover, the mighty Big Issue is packed to the gills full of fun.”
Boston Tea Party, 75 Park Street, BS1 5PF, www.bostonteaparty.co.uk
Tea – £1.50
Flat white – £2.50
Hippie bar – £2.50
Total – £6.50
Illustration by Harry Morgan