Andy Wotton

A MOTHER paid tribute to her “kind, loving and thoughtful” son who put a smile on people’s faces every day as he sold The Big Issue near the Barbican.

Floral tributes have built up around a pillar outside the Waitrose near Whitecross Street, as scores of passers-by have mourned the passing of Andy Wotton.

The 52-year-old, originally from a small town in Scotland called Glenmavis, had been a friendly and familiar face in the area for about 20 years.

His mother Janette Wotton, 70, said: “He was such a kind boy. You just couldn’t ever stay angry at him, he didn’t look for anything from anyone. It is heartbreaking, I’m going to miss him so badly.”

Mr Wotton left school at the age of 16. He was popular at school and loved to ride motorbikes and go fishing with his dad.

He travelled down to London to find work as a bricklayer.

The 52-year-old, who had one son, had been suffering from a long-term illness before he passed away on September 2.

Dozens of notes had been left for him saying he was an “angel” and a “ray of sunshine” who would look after customers’ pets and bikes as they shopped and had a collection of trolley tokens at hand for when they forgot theirs.

A friend has now gathered all the notes and sent them up to Ms Wotton, a retired nurse.

“I want to see the cards in my hands,” she said. “His friend called me when he was being taken to hospital. He put the phone to Andy’s ear and I said ‘I’m coming down as soon as I can son,’ and I went.

“I spoke to him in the hospital. He passed away quietly. I don’t know what else to say, he was just a kind, loving and thoughtful young man who passed too soon.”

Carlos, who did not want to give his full name, lived with Mr Wotton in Errol Street for almost a decade.

“He seemed to know everyone here,” he said. “Kids or parents, he got on with everybody. I thought he was invisible to them, just another Big Issue seller, but then there has been this outpouring of letters and flowers.”

Carlos added: “He was loved.”

Chris Falchi-Stead, director of sales and operations at The Big Issue, said: “Andy was an extremely well-loved vendor in Barbican, and we are all very saddened to hear of his passing.

He added: “It has been truly humbling for us to have received so many calls from his customers, he touched the hearts of so many. The thoughts of everyone at The Big Issue are with his family at this difficult time.”