Whilst cycling for our HCC Foodbank drops I stopped off at Co-op to pick up some home shopping. I noticed a rough sleeper near the entrance and as I don’t give money made a note to ask him if he wanted something to eat or drink from inside.
I hadn’t actually looked at his face, just sort of glanced, so as I was locking my bike he spoke from behind me, “Is that Emz? How are ya young fella?”
Gosh, it was Stuart, who’s been visiting and hanging out with the One Third Homeless Soup Kitchen team at Stratford since mid last year. He’s since lost his job in the Army where he was an engineer for almost thirty years and is now pretty much bottom of the class.
Stu, like my old friend, Isle of Dogs Stewie is an intellectual and an avid reader. As it was his lucky day I was able to gift him Texas Ranger by his favourite author James Patterson (& Andrew Bourelle). I also had another copy of A Tiny Bit of Marvellous by Dawn French. Due to social distancing I couldn’t get too close but passed him the books by playing throw and catch.
Stu has been a Tottenham fan his whole life and cites Glen Hoddle as his all time favourite. “Glen was a magician and Gazza was a pinball wizard, but Hod edges it for me,” he reminisced. I told him I respectfully disagreed and listed my three all time great Spurs G’s - Greaves, Gazza, Glenda.
He even admires Arsenal and if he could have two Gooners that he’d have had at White Hart Lane back then he would have taken Thierry Henry and Denis Bergkamp.
We agreed on one thing though. Neville Southall was the greatest keeper in the world - ahead of Grobelaar, Clemence, Jennings, Lloris, Alison.
He’s still a North London boy is Stu and has been travelling around. I advised him on lockdown and social distancing but he knows a whole more than I do.
As he’s there all day I was able to finish my shift at Foodbank and drop some items to him. He’s a real connoisseur and a particular favourite of mine.
Stay safe Stu, I’m sure our paths will keep crossing!
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