Arriving in Italy with nothing but £30 and a packet of pencils, Mayor of Bristol and 91 Ways supporter George Ferguson used his skills to earn him food, life skills, and memories which would stay with him forever.

“I travelled to Italy when I was an aspiring architectural student. I set off with about £30 for 2 ½ months and planned to live off drawings I would sell. I sold drawings on the Spanish Steps in Rome.

Living like this forced me to be extraordinarily careful: I discovered the huge benefit of the city markets there – you could buy a meal for a few pence: pasta, sauce and anchovies (which came from buckets!).

I lived very sparsely and I slept in Rome station. I met some really interesting people and when I went to people’s homes I would eat a huge amount!”