Darlington's longest-serving Big Issue vendor to begin new career

Peter Cowles has been selling The Big Issue on High Row in Darlington since 1999 and now, nearly 23 years later, he is happy to be moving on to start a career in security.

The soon-to-be former Big Issue vendor will be starting a seven-day course at Locomotive Learning in January.

The course will result in Peter gaining his SIA licence which will enable him to find work as a doorman in the security industry at venues such as pubs and clubs.

Peter said the main thing he will miss about selling The Big Issue on High Row is the people (Image: Sarah Caldecott, Newsquest)

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Peter is now feeling positive about the future and the prospect of working in a job that plays to his strengths.

Peter said: “I’m really excited, I think it’ll be really good. I’m ready for a change because you can’t do the same thing forever because then you just get stuck.

“I’ll miss the people but I’m sure I’ll have plenty chances to talk with people if I’m working in security.

“I think the main thing I won’t miss about this job is the cold weather! I love being outside but no one likes being out in the freezing cold, that and people calling you names.”

Peter has been selling the magazine on High Row for 23 years (Image: Sarah Caldecott, Newsquest)

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Gavin Spence, who runs Locomotive Learning, said: “Peter was referred to us and because he’s got loads of experience talking to people because he does it every day, he’s got good people skills and that’s massively important in security.

“The industry’s moved away from the typical bouncers from years ago. It’s not about throwing your weight around, you need good conflict-management skills and you need to be able to talk to people. so Peter shuld e great at that.”

Peter is well-known in the town for always being polite, friendly and funny with members of the public, whether they stop to buy a copy of the magazine or not.

During the festive period, he has been entertaining shoppers by standing at his usual spot, next to Cooplands on the corner of Post House Wynd and High Row, wearing an inflatable Santa suit or turkey suit.

After making us all laugh and smile over the years, Peter will be hugely missed, but Darlington wishes him all the best in his new venture.

Peter has become part of the furniture on High Row and will be hugely missed (Image: Sarah Caldecott, Newsquest)

Never failing to entertain shoppers (Image: Facebook)

Read next:

• We spent a day with a Big Issue seller in Darlington to see what it's really like
• Darlington restaurant and school team up to spread Christmas joy to the struggling
• 'We want to keep people safe': What this Darlington venue is doing to reduce spiking

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