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Chimney Sweep in the Press

The article reads-

Chimney sweeps are often associated with sooty faced Victorian children or Dick Van Dyke’s character in the 1964 film, Mary Poppins.

Gone are the days when a small child is forced up a chimney equipped with a bamboo cane.

Fire fighter and part time sweep Dave Moore 44 of Francis Close, Hordon-on-the-Hill, represents a new breed of chimney sweeps with state of the art equipment worth around £2000.

Dave who is married to Julia and has five year old son Elliot is currently being trained by Andrew Taylor, Secretary of the Guild of Chimney Sweeps who is based in Cambridgeshire and has 25 years experience as a chimney sweep.

To become a member of the Guild of Chimney Sweeps Dave must pass all his exams including a HETAS exam in February and, as well the exams he must prove himself in the field. *

Dave said “To become a member of the Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps you have to be at a very high standard. After three complaints you’re out”.

Dave was born in Orsett and has been a fireman for 25yrs. He now holds the rank of Crew Commander at Orsett Fire Station.

He hopes to take up chimney sweeping full time when he leaves the fire service.

He said “being a fireman has helped me communicate with people and it means I can sweep chimneys with the best safety precautions, I am fully insured and I’ve got climbing harnesses and hard hats”
Dave take great pride in his work and has many sets of rods and brushes and a vacuum with twin motors to help him.

He is also keen to let people know about the dangers of neglecting chimney maintenance.

He said “I believe there will be an increase in the number of chimney fires in the future because people just don’t get their chimneys swept anymore.

“Soot is a combustible material so it can catch fire half way up, its like the principle of a rocket, a chimney will roar when it catches fire.

Dave also offer his services as good luck mascot for weddings ‘Lucky Wedding Day Services’ gives happy couples the chance to have Dave there in all his ‘Dick Van Dyke’ regalia including cap and three wheeled bicycle.

Along with all his good luck he gives the groom a bottle of champagne and the bride a good luck card. By going his newly set-up website (this is the website) discount vouchers for wedding and chimney sweep services can be printed off and used.

Customer can get £10 off a wedding visit and £5 off a chimney sweep.

Dave added “there are only about 14 members of the guild from up and down the country and I hope to join them one day”.

If you need your chimney swept you call Dave Moore on 01375 360956 or 07905 720934.
Alternatively you can visit his website at www.chimney-sweeper.co.uk

This article was printed in 2005. Since then the Guild of Master Sweeps Ltd has been dissolved and a new trade organisation formed. Unfortunately I found I had a professional conflict of interest with this organisation and also could not agree with some of their rules and policies. I left the Guild in 2007 and am now a member of APICS. I am now taking a City and Guilds NVQ in Chimney Engineering. Upon completion I hope to become an assessor/ verifier for the City and Guilds NVQ board.