Advertisement
News

‘He would give away his last penny’: Tributes paid to late Big Issue seller Martin Chown

Plymouth seller Martin Chown died in January after 15 years of selling The Big Issue around the Devon city

Popular Big Issue vendor Martin Chown, who became a familiar sight around Plymouth after spending more than 15 years selling the magazine in the city, has died. 

Chown, who was well-known to customers outside Tesco on New George Street and around the Barbican district, passed away on January 4 at the age of 46 following a long battle with addiction.

Your support changes lives. Find out how you can help us help more people by signing up for a subscription

Sue Owen, The Big Issue’s frontline vendor support worker in Plymouth, joined past and present vendors as well as Chown’s family and friends at his funeral on February 2.

She remembered Chown as a “quiet vendor with a cheeky smile”.

“Martin was always kind and looked out for others. He would give away his last penny if he thought you needed it more,” said Owen.

Advertisement
Advertisement

“Martin was a vendor when I started 15 years ago and I will remember him as someone who never tried to blame others when things were bad, he took responsibility and kept trying.

“Martin struggled with addictions for most of his life which was intensified by the loss of his elder brother. Martin was a relatively quiet vendor, but his presence and cheeky smile will be sadly missed by all who knew him.”

Get the latest news and insight into how the Big Issue magazine is made by signing up for the Inside Big Issue newsletter

The Big Issue’s #BigFutures campaign is calling for investment in decent and affordable housing, ending the low wage economy, and millions of green jobs. The last 10 years of austerity and cuts to public services have failed to deliver better living standards for people in this country. Sign the open letter and demand a better future.

Advertisement

Support someone in your own community

With our online vendor map, you can support a local vendor by supplementing their income with a subscription to Big Issue. For every annual subscription sold via a vendor, a vendor receives £50.

Recommended for you

Read All
Should we break up the Met? We asked experts what comes next after the Casey Review
police reform

Should we break up the Met? We asked experts what comes next after the Casey Review

Strike dates 2023: From trains to passport offices, here are the dates to know
Strike action

Strike dates 2023: From trains to passport offices, here are the dates to know

Young disabled people are shut out from housing and forced to live with their parents
Disability

Young disabled people are shut out from housing and forced to live with their parents

Ever thought about earning money from recycling? Bower Recycling is making it happen.
Recycling

Ever thought about earning money from recycling? Bower Recycling is making it happen.

Most Popular

Read All
Here's when people will get the next cost of living payment in 2023
1.

Here's when people will get the next cost of living payment in 2023

No internet, no opportunities: Addressing the challenges of digital exclusion in the UK
2.

No internet, no opportunities: Addressing the challenges of digital exclusion in the UK

What are 15-minute cities? The truth about the plans popping up from Oxford all the way to Melbourne
3.

What are 15-minute cities? The truth about the plans popping up from Oxford all the way to Melbourne

They Might Be Giants is not a cult: How they built a birdhouse in your soul... and a 40-year sustainable creative enterprise
4.

They Might Be Giants is not a cult: How they built a birdhouse in your soul... and a 40-year sustainable creative enterprise