“I didn’t expect to be here for 26 years” says Pradesh Patel, 48, leaning over the counter top of Brixton News to the left of the entrance inside Brixton tube station. The humble newsagents is easy to miss, however it still remains fundamental for commuters passing by everyday.
With the gradual cutback of workers on the tube station floors, it seems that London transport is becoming slowly disassociated with humans but Pradesh is one of the last men standing.
Reminiscing, Pradesh looks back to different times and speaks fondly of the all sorts of characters he would see regularly at the tube station like Brian. “Brian was a drug addict and he would be here all day and make a little money selling people’s old day travel cards”, whilst Brian’s source of income was frowned upon by TFL, it’s clear his presence provided some pleasure for the workers in Brixton News.
Brian also acts as a substantial milestone in the timeline of Brixton. The area has changed massively over the years, no longer associated with drug addicts and violent crime, which hasn’t gone unnoticed by Pradesh. “Brixton isn’t just known as a ‘rough’ or a ‘black area’ now” he says, “There is no colour bias…you can’t distinguish where people are from just because of their race. People open their mouths and come out with all sorts of different languages”. The latest trends in immigration don’t go unnoticed to Pradesh, he reveals that recently “there have been a lot of young Irish people moving to Brixton”, but in the grand scheme of things Pradesh remains adamant that Brixton isn’t represented by one single culture but acts as it’s “own universal hub”.
A local then walks past among the hustle of the tube station and shouts “Alright, love?” towards Pradesh who responds “Hiya, honey, how’re you doing?” as the pair share a sincere smile. This interaction suggests the significant role that Pradesh has in the day to day life of passers by in Brixton tube station, almost making him a Brixton landmark. After explaining the relationship with the commuter that had just passed, Pradesh reveals that he has “seen kids grow up”, showing a knowledge of the tube station users that the CCTV cameras could never have.
Pradesh’s intimate relationship with his customers has resulted in significant concern for Brixton’s ever-growing property market. “Brixton is a very young area – full of young professionals, but now, because housing is becoming so expensive, they’re all having to move out to places like Lewisham or Forest Hill ”, he explains with a sense of frustration in his voice. It’s undeniable the fact that, yes, Brixton does have a large population of young people, but it is gradually decreasing as the popularity of Brixton increases. Still on the topic of property in Brixton, Pradesh becomes increasingly passionate and eventually declares his distaste for the way things are going, “Private housing is only going one way and now it’s only people at the top who are getting houses…it’s awful”.
Although Pradesh’s anger at the accessibility of Brixton in the present day is clear, his face lights up as he looks back on the last 26 years of working in Brixton tube station. “Working down here sometimes makes you feel a little stir crazy”, he says looking about the tube station entrance, “but it’s been a pleasure working here”. As he takes back his stance behind the Brixton News till, a customer approaches him within seconds and Pradesh address their needs with a welcoming smile, settling back into his daily role
