Vendor retires after 50 years.. read all about it!

Published on Friday 10 July 2009 09:43

Simson Dickson, the longest serving Evening News vendor, has retired after 50 years of bringing the paper to the people.

The popular seller, a regular on South St David Street and Castle Street, will be instantly recognisable to thousands of city readers for his trademark cap and infectious smile.

Simson Dickson was born to Joanne and Simson Dickson 65 years ago, growing up in Broomhall.

He attended Balgreen Nursery, before heading off to St Nicholas' School on Gorgie Road, leaving at the age of 16.

It was then that he began selling the Evening News on a part-time basis, mainly its sports pages in pubs across the city, where he soon built up a regular customer base who looked forward to his next visit.

He also joined a team of vendors selling the paper on the ferry crossing over the Forth, before the road bridge was built.

Mr Dickson also worked as a message boy for a delicatessen on George Street, at what is now the Italian restaurant Gusto.

There, he fondly remembers climbing flights of stairs in the New Town, delivering mouth-watering items to shoppers in their homes, including many of the city's most wealthy residents.

He said: "I was also sent to Holyrood when the Queen was in residence, taking provisions such as cheese and bread. I very much enjoyed my time at the delicatessen, right up until it closed in 1970."

From there, Mr Dickson went on to work in some of the Capital's biggest department stores in a variety of roles, while continuing to sell the Evening News on a part-time basis, often being treated to pints of beer by customers in pubs across the city in return.

It was in 1996 that he decided to focus his full energies on the job, taking up permanent residence in a vendor's box on South St David Street and Castle Street.

He said: "I've enjoyed selling the paper over the years and I have seen many changes to it and Edinburgh. When I used to sell the paper in pubs, people would often try to wriggle out of paying. I said to them, 'If you can afford your drink, you can pay for it now'."

A true mark of Mr Dickson's popularity with readers are the postcards he receives from across the world, from tourists he has sold papers to, or given directions, who have written to him when they returned home.

In his spare time, Mr Dickson is a huge fan of Scottish motor racing, as well as being a member of the National Trust, enjoying the great outdoors.

In his retirement, he intends to spend more time on these interests, continuing to visit Knockhill on a regular basis, while using his free Saturdays to make trips to Arran and Fife, two of his favourite locations.

He will also continue to be a firm fixture in the Jinglin' Geordie pub, a favourite haunt since his days in the former Scotsman offices.

Simson marks his retirement tonight with a farewell gathering at the paper's Holyrood Road offices, along with company directors, editors and staff who have worked alongside him throughout the decades.