Rough sleeper takes on 70-mile charity trek - Peter Pickles on final leg of King's Corner Project

Published: 27 August 2010
by PETER GRUNER

HOMELESS rough sleeper and “King of the Road” Peter Pickles is on the final leg today (Friday) of a 70-mile walk for an Islington- based charity.

Peter, 60, dressed in an traditional 18th century smuggler’s costume, set off from Old Street on Wednesday for the four-day walk back to his birthplace at Dymchurch in Kent.

Sleeping rough each night, he is raising money and awareness for the Kings Corner Project, who work with young people. Walking 20 miles a day he hopes to arrive at Dymchurch tomorrow (Saturday) in time for the annual festival to celebrate the literary figure created by writer Russell Thorndyke in 1915 Dr Syn.

Peter, former amusement arcade worker lost his home after his mother died in 2004 and has been on and off the road ever since. He currently lives in a hostel in the East End.

The project has been running a free advice and resource centre in Islington for more than 25 years. 

Its team of qualified youth workers and specialists provides activities and projects for young people aged 15 to 21 from Islington and the surrounding boroughs.

A rough sleeper around Islington for the past six years, Peter has helped the project with its activities and a recent film about homelessness. He said: “I am very proud to be doing this walk for such a good cause. My walk is aiming to raise as much money as possible for the charity and promote the wonderful work it does in the borough.

“The workers and volunteers at Kings Corner have really looked after me. 

“They treat me as a normal person - and this is my thank you to them. My walk shows that homeless people and rough sleepers do actually care about others and want to play a full part in contributing positively to our local community.”

Sarah Bates, chairwoman of the project said she was delighted that Peter offered to undertake such a feat.

“The money that Peter will raise will mean we can continue improving the opportunities we offer to residents,” she said.

Donations for Peter’s charity walk in aid of Kings Corner Project can be made at: www.justgiving.com/ kcpwalk

For enquiries about Kings Corner Project contact Graham Reeves, Senior Youth Worker
on 020 7253 6776.

• Additional research by Andres Tziallis