A Friend In Deed

As the Cathedral caretaker explained the impact the occupation was having to the gathered crowd, he was on the verge of tears. We were, he said, disrupting a number of plans and activities that normally took place, including a children’s fair and a wedding complete with horse and carriage.

Such inconveniences, the flock of protestors tentatively argued, could not be put on a par with the suffering of the 99% they were here to represent. Just then, the caretaker saw a familiar face within the expanding crowd, “I know you James, we’ve been feeding you for years” He said to a tall red-haired man.

“Yes,” came back the reply in a distinctly Liverpudlian accent, “and you’ve never once asked me how I am. Then all these beautiful people turned up and now I’m not alone any more.”

The local among occupying activists was James McMahon, 47. Homeless for over twelve years, he’s spent the past ten living around St. Paul’s, and is now a familiar face at the camp, “I split up with my wife in Liverpool and came to London on a coach. After sleeping rough in different locations, I came to stay at St Paul’s.”

When we first arrived, James wasn’t initially sure what we were all doing here, “I thought you were something to do with the church. I didn’t know it was a demonstration at first,”

“I don’t read newspapers, and I don’t listen to radios. I’ve just been living a free spirit life. I spoke to a chap later on who explained about the cuts, and tax dodging and the gambling of the banks. Anything that needs to be done, they shout this thing called ‘mic check’ and then everyone gets involved,”

“They all run round, get together, and it’s done within minutes. It doesn’t matter what it may be, it’s done in a loving, humble way, together as a community.”

While St. Paul’s consider the ‘community’ that has sprung up in its shadow an inconvenience, for James it has been a lease of life, “For me to refuse to be part of it – I’d be a fool. They’re so loving and understanding. I’ve accepted most of them as friends.”

But it isn’t just new friends James has found, “Working in the kitchen shows me what I’m capable of. It’s been a graceful path for me to play my part and be involved.”

The experience hasn’t been entirely positive though, “I think over the course of this week I’ve been a bit stressed out.”

Hundreds of relatively privileged strangers suddenly pitching up on your patch would certainly agitate most of us, but that isn’t what is making James tense. Instead, it’s some of the general public “passing comments as they walk by,”

“If they’d come to a general assembly they’d really understand.”

James feels the church, despite its kindness, also lacks some understanding at times, “the Church has been kind, but not so kind. They know of me sleeping here, but I think they are annoyed to see me in a sense. They come to move me at six thirty in the morning to clean the stairs and other people’s mess,”

“They could clean around me. Its not the community church, its a cathedral, a tourist attraction. I don’t think they want people to see me. London is a wonderful city; I don’t think they actually want to accept that there’s homelessness here. People have offered me money in kindness, but I would rather them sit down and talk with me, or any of the rough sleepers.

The homeless are at the foot of the 99% either ignored or abused by society’s socio-economic elite. Though new to this movement, the words “involved’ and “understanding” pepper James’ rhetoric, “I wish people would understand who I was and what I am. I’ve been writing a book for four and a half years. If people don’t know, how can they really help?”

James knows exactly how he’d like occupiers to help, “I’d like you all to stay there until Christmas. If you stay here until Christmas it means I’ll have a beautiful big family to have a turkey with.We could crack a few crackers, maybe have a few glasses of wine in the pub before we go back for dinner.”

So, what does James want as a Christmas gift? Nothing material. What he wants is of far greater value: empowerment and companionship, “I’ll be in the kitchen on Christmas day if we’re able to stay here. I’ll cook a roast all on camp. It will be lovely to have you all there for Christmas dinner.”

By Natalia Sanchez-Bell and Steven Maclean