‘People seem to forget about it now’: Big Issue vendors share what Remembrance Day means to them

Three percent of rough sleepers are veterans. According to our latest survey, the figure is the same for Big Issue sellers who have previously served in the armed forces. As Remembrance Day approaches, it’s a fitting time to look at whether sufficient support is available for people dealing with the physical and psychological toll of service and financial fallout. 

Keir Starmer told us in October about how the government’s ‘Forces First’ policy was prioritising veterans, but charities shared their fears that funding may be cut, just as the government insists they will meet global (read Trump) pressure to increase defence spending to 3.5% of GDP in the next decade. Quite how is not clear. 

Recruitment is hitting a block. This year, in a shifting world where concerns for our security are growing, 500 more people left the forces than joined. Ever-more creative recruitment is being used – from fast-tracking “cyber warriors” with digital skills to tackle the new frontier of digital warfare, to sponsoring the premiership, making sure the military is front and centre for a vast number of young people every week. Here, our vendors reflect on what Remembrance means to them.

James Brewer, 60, Bristol

James spent more than 20 years in the RAF and now sells Big Issue at Bristol Temple Meads railway station. Last year he raised more than £500 in magazine sales in a week ahead of Remembrance Day, and donated the cash to forces charities SSAFA and the RAF Benevolent Fund because they supported him while he was sleeping rough on the streets after leaving the RAF in 2005. Big Issue topped up the cash with a fundraiser, allowing Brewer to collect £788 for the two charities. 

This year Brewer is looking to raise more money for the charities in honour of his brother – a former serviceman who died six years ago. 

“SSAFA helped me immensely. When I was on the streets they gave me sleeping bags, they gave me boots, they’ve helped me in loads of ways,” Brewer says.  “When I was on my arse and I had nothing they were there for me. They gave me a tent and everything I needed. The RAF Benevolent Fund helped me a long time ago. They helped my brother as well. It’s just my way of raising a few pounds to put back to help somebody else who might be on their arse and needs some help.” 

Remembrance Sunday is a poignant day for Brewer. He will mark it by attending the local parade before taking some time to toast and remember lost friends and family, as well as paying tribute to current forces personnel. 

“It’s remembering people I know who are not here any more,” Brewer says. “My brother, predominantly, because he passed away a few years ago due to mental health issues and unfortunately took his own life. It’s something that means a lot to me. It’s giving a little back to a lot of people who have supported me in the past and helped me. 

“Remembrance for me is something really special that shouldn’t be forgotten and, unfortunately, needs to be brought to people’s attention because a lot of people seem to forget about it now. You don’t see as many people wearing poppies as you used to and people seem to forget that all these people gave their lives, gave their all so we can have the freedoms that we’ve got now.” 

Brewer’s efforts last year moved some Big Issue readers to pass on their warm words. “I even got fan mail at the train station,” Brewer explains. “People sent postcards and letters to the train station, saying congratulations and well done. I had about two dozen. The poor guy at the train station didn’t know what to do with them! It made me feel good anyway!” 

You can donate to Brewer’s cause on his JustGiving page.

Nick Cuthbert, Truro

Vendor Nick Cuthbertis doing his bit for this year’s Poppy Appeal by featuring a box on his pitch in Truro. Cuthbert, who sells Big Issue outside M&S in the Cornish city’s Lemon Quay, had a grandfather who served in the army and he hopes the poppies serve as a reminder to never have another war. 

He believes giving his customers the chance to buy a poppy alongside a magazine helps people to keep Remembrance in mind. 

“I’ve got the poppy appeal box on my table and I think we should have Remembrance in the magazine because within a week everybody will have a poppy on. It reminds all the young ones to remember. That’s why I have it on my table. A lot of my customers are elderly and some of them will have been through the war. We should show that we are behind Remembrance.” 

On Remembrance Sunday, Cuthbert will join the nation in taking time to remember lost lives. 

“We’ve got a monument of a soldier with a gun in his hand in Truro and everyone should remember,” Cuthbert says. “I always do my silence bit. A lot of people died in the Second World War. I think of all the Jewish people and the Romani people who went to the chambers. I couldn’t even watch the film War Horse.” 

Read more:

• A false claim about homeless veterans and asylum seekers sparked outrage. Here’s the reality
• ‘I didn’t see a future’: Trans veteran forced to hide true self for decades under armed forces ‘gay ban’
• Demand homeless veterans are housed this Remembrance Day – and everyone else too

Vendors remember

Karl Burns, Bournemouth: “I won’t be selling poppies this year but most of my customers wear them and I do too. I always buy one to make sure I show my appreciation for those we lost at war.” 

Florinel, Bournemouth: “People died so today we have our freedom. I am grateful and want to show my support.” 

Mark, Bournemouth: “I always buy my poppy because my brother was in the Royal Engineers. I always do the silence when I’m working. I take a 10-minute break to show my support. It’s important to keep the tradition alive out of respect for those we lost.” 

Bridgette Sibley, Portsmouth: “My father served in the Second World War. He was sunk twice
in conflict, and he was at Dunkirk. I wear my poppy with pride and will be marking the occasion in silence. It is a sentimental time where I think of all the poor soldiers who have died in conflicts around the world.” 

James Ring, Kingsbridge, lost a nephew in the war in Afghanistan. His father spent time in Ireland and his uncle served with 29 Commandos in the Falklands, Kosovo and Iraq. He wears his poppy to remember others who went away and never came back. His thoughts are especially with his nephew.  

Stuart Anderson, Truro says it’s very important to remember those who died and he wears a poppy to remember them. 

Tony Flynn, Barnstaple was a conscript in the 8 South African Infantry Brigade as a Bren gunner in 1977-79, and was in operations in Angola and Namibia. Things were very tough, dangerous and challenging. Tony wears his poppy with pride and remembers the fallen.

For Your Tomorrow

A poignant art installation depicting the British servicemen killed on D-Day has struck a chord with the public. Having only opened in late October, viewings are now fully booked until it closes on 25 January next year. 

For Your Tomorrow features 1,475 life-sized silhouettes, representing the number of men under British command who were killed on 6 June 1944. The cut-outs were made from recycled advertising hoardings and hand-cut into shape by charity Standing With Giants. They were then installed across the parade ground at Fort Nelson, Hampshire. The site overlooks Portsmouth Harbour, where many of the men who died in Normandy set sail from. 

For Your Tomorrow was originally installed across the wild meadow fields of the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, France, as part of the D-Day 80 commemorations. Since opening at Fort Nelson as a free-ticketed installation, the opportunity to walk among the cut-outs in quiet contemplation has proved hugely popular, with 2,000 visitors in its first weekend. 

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more. 

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