Michael Williams, 48, outside M&S, Bangor
“People have been generous because they’ve seen me trying to better myself”
People in Bangor have been good to me. I used to busk and they saw me on the streets, scruffy and dirty and thin. Since I started the Issue I’ve been looking smarter and eating better. People here have been generous because they’ve seen me trying to better myself. I’m from Anglesey originally but this community has welcomed me.
I’ve been selling the magazine for eight months. I was looking after my mother but then she had a stroke and went into a home. I wasn’t allowed to stay in her house any more so I was homeless. I slept in fields, the cemetery – anywhere. Then I was in a hostel for 13 months and they helped me get a flat. Now that I’ve got somewhere to live I’ve got my cat back. He’s called Socks because he’s black with white socks. A friend was looking after him but it’s lovely to have him back.
The Big Issue has saved my life. It’s given me something worth living for, purpose and pride
The Big Issue has saved my life. It’s given me something worth living for, purpose and pride. I was really down, not far from jumping off the bridge, but The Big Issue has done the world of good for me. I’m still here because of it. I really enjoy doing it – I like helping the old people across the road and hearing their old war stories. I’ve got bipolar and OCD so it’s quite hard for me to get any other type of job. But with this I’m my own boss.
I love festivals but I don’t have plans to go to any this year. Now I’ve got my flat my kids can come and stay with me at weekends so I’m focusing all my time on them. They’re 22, 18 and 14, and The Big Issue gives me money to spend on them. But I’d love to see Black Sabbath at Donnington. I also love fly-fishing. I go for trout and sea trout, I can’t afford salmon! I can think about my problems calmly when I’m concentrating on the fishing.
I’ve got into religion – I’m not a Bible basher but I want to be a nice, decent person. I used to go with a wild crowd when I was younger. I was a really bad, bad person but that was before my medication was sorted out. I go to Bangor Cathedral, there’s a good vicar there. Father, I call him. I want to put back into the community what’s been given to me.
Diolch yn fawr i bawb am fod mor garedig. That means, thank you everyone for being so kind.
My favourite sport… Rugby and boxing. Mike Tyson was amazing but Chris Eubank is my favourite British boxer. And Chris Eubank Jr is becoming a good fighter.
If I won the lottery… I’d like to travel around the world on a motorbike. I’d also like a smallholding so I could use it to help disadvantaged people.
On my pitch… I’m here seven days a week from 10am till 3pm.
Photo: Robert Eames
Marks & Spencer Foodstore, Bangor, United Kingdom