IF you are from Darlington or you work in the town, you will have probably noticed this man.
Peter 'Pete' Cowles has been selling The Big Issue here since 1999, and he has a certain charm that makes the people of Darlington smile.
As part of The Northern Echo's insight into the Big Issue and what it is like to be a seller on one of the region's busiest high streets, Pete has told us his story.
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Originally from Birmingham, Peter lost his mother to cancer when he was just 15 and moved to the North East to avoid being put into the care system like his older siblings.
The Big Issue paid for his train fare from Birmingham to Middlesbrough and moved into Wellington House, a homeless hostel, and started selling The Big Issue.
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After not too long, however, he decided to try somewhere else, and so he walked to Darlington, which took six hours, and he has been here ever since.
An alcoholic at 16, Peter slept rough in Darlington for roughly seven months before his friend Roger helped him find accommodation.
Peter said: “I was in a bad place. I was in the gutter to be honest but now I’m happy. I’m in a better place.
“That was probably the hardest part, when I was young and started out doing this, trying to get away from the people I used to drink with.
“But now I’m happy, I keep smiling.”
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In the last few years, Peter reconnected with his siblings, a brother and two sisters, over Facebook.
He said: “I hadn’t seen them for years and years. The magic of Facebook.”
Why he enjoys what he does
Peter said if he were to get a ‘normal job’ he would probably go into security, although he stressed how much he enjoys selling The Big Issue.
“My mum always taught me to be polite, and I think that’s something that really helps with this job.
“Also I’m dead used to the outside life now! As long as I’ve got a coffee and the sun’s shining, I’m happy.”
Tracy Moore, Big Issue team leader for the North East said: “We never have any complaints about Pete, he’s a good sort.”
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