Stephen Pryke

Friends and family have paid tribute to a Big Issue vendor with ‘a heart of gold’ who was killed in a horrific road accident. Thirty-nine-year-old Stephen Pryke, who sold the magazine in and around Suffolk, died when he was hit by a car as he walked along Hadleigh Road at 2.40am on Friday May 1 in Ipswich.

In a statement, his family paid tribute to Mr Pryke, saying: “Stephen was a very generous person and had a heart of gold. He would give his last penny to someone if they needed it. Stephen chose his path in life and will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him.”

Mr Pryke had been working as a Big Issue seller for 12 years, and although he picked up his magazines in the YMCA charity store in Ipswich’s Westgate Street, he regularly sold the magazine in Stowmarket, Thetford and Diss.

The 36-year-old male driver of the blue Volkswagen Golf involved in the incident was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and drink driving, and was treated for a broken arm and leg in Ipswich hospital. He was later bailed pending further enquiries. Paramedics pronounced Mr Pryke dead at the scene of the crime.

According to Jim Graver, the manager of The Big Issue’s operations in Ipswich, Mr Pryke was Suffolk born and bred, and was well-loved by both customers and Big Issue staff.

“Stephen was a popular vendor with a constant smile and top quality banter in and around the office,” said Graver. “His warm nature and sunny disposition will be greatly missed by customers, vendors and especially the staff here in Ipswich, as he always brightened our days.”

Mr Pryke, known locally as ‘Big Steve’, was a keen pool player, and played regularly for a Suffolk team.

Fellow Big Issue vendor Liam Anglin described him as a ‘great lad’. “He was a decent guy and well-respected among the sellers,” said Anglin. “He would always give you a roll-up if you were short. He wasn’t on drugs, he was just trying to earn a living.”

Stephen Robertson, the chief executive of the charitable arm of The Big Issue, The Big Issue Foundation, said: “Stephen Pryke was well-loved by the general public and had

been with us since the beginning. He was a great ambassador for The Big Issue, and was particularly good at getting the magazine into the small market towns of Suffolk. In all his years with us, we never had a single complaint about him – he will be sorely missed by all.”