Earl John Charlton, 38, Quayside, Newcastle
"Things are looking up. I was lucky to find a wonderful person, my partner, who pulled me through. She saw the better part of me"
It’s been a strange time for me because I came back home to Newcastle only recently, in March, after many years in London. I used to sell the magazine down there, in the busy parts of the City – the Barbican, Farringdon and St Paul’s. But I’m enjoying my pitch here at Quayside. You get a great view of the River Tyne.
I first moved down to London when I was 15 years old. I grew up in care homes and foster homes, mostly in South Shields, and that wasn’t such a great experience. So I set out on my own and hitchhiked all the way to London. I can still remember arriving around Tottenham Court Road tube station and feeling quite scared by it all.
I was young and stupid. But I survived. I got some help from Centrepoint during those first few years. But I also ended up with the wrong sort of friends, and fell into drink and drug habits.
After I got fed up with London, I travelled around the country. I stayed in Bristol for a while and liked it there but found it difficult to kick bad habits. In recent years, I finally managed to clean my act up. I started selling The Big Issue in London and that was great. It gave me some structure and purpose in a positive way and gave me a glimpse of a better kind of life.
I grew up in care homes and foster homes, mostly in South Shields, and that wasn’t such a great experience
I was also lucky to find a wonderful person, my partner, who pulled me through. She saw the better part of me. With her help I got through detox and now I’m drug-free. And we decided to move back to my old stomping ground in the North East for a fresh start.
The pace of life is slower in Newcastle than in London but I’m very happy to be back. I didn’t realise how much I missed the city. I’m also a bit of an outdoors guy, so it’s great to go back down to the seafront at South Shields. I have very fond childhood memories of being down there, fishing on the pier. And clambering around the rocks at Marsden Bay. My nana worked in a restaurant there and she’d tell me all about the ghosts in the caves.
Strange to be back but good to be back. I recently got my own flat here so things really are looking up for me. It’s been a struggle to keep up with the bills but I’m really trying to make a go of settling down.
The one thing I’d love to do… Go on a safari in Africa. My partner and I both love animals, so I’d love to see the wildlife in that setting.
My favourite team… Newcastle FC. I couldn’t tell you the current players but you have to support your hometown team.
On my pitch… I’m outside Greggs on Quayside, Newcastle from Tuesdays to Fridays, noon until 7pm
Photo: Erika Tanith
Quayside, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 2HF, United Kingdom