30/6/2011 Roland — Waterloo Plein, Amsterdam

Having said that my brother is also called Roland, he tells me he’s most probably named after a line from a Robert Browning poem — ‘Childe Roland from the dark tower came,’ which, he also tells me, was the inspiration for Stephen King's series of books, The Dark Tower.

Why Che? “I just like him.”

12/7/2011 Ivan — Brussels Zuid station

Having been keeping half an eye out all day in Brussels, it was only as I was stepping off the train at Brussels Zuid to get the Eurostar back to the UK when I saw Ivan coming towards me. He was just about to board a train, so there was only time for the photo and a handshake, no time to speak.

27/7/2011 Simon — Jericho Tavern, Oxford

Simon was walking along Walton Street in Oxford as I was cycling past. I turned round to catch up with him, but he had disappeared into the Jericho Tavern. Not wanting to give up so easily, I locked up my bike followed him inside. Luckily, he was standing at the bar straight in front of the door, so I explained what I was doing, and asked him why he wore Che. “Because he’s an icon, and he stands for revolution.” I asked if I could take a couple of photos, perhaps outside so I didn’t have to use the flash, which he readily agreed to, saying — “I feel like a movie star or something.” 

29/7/2011 Sam — Reading town centre

“I just really like him — and this t-shirt is quite special because my mum brought it back for me from Cuba.”