The Guild News
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The Guild News October 2011 In this The Guild travelled to Indianapolis chimney Sweeping Industry on an in August of this year to attend the international level. It is a great hon- issue annual European Federation of our and responsibility and shows Chimney Sweeps (ESCHFOE) con- how far we have come. We can Letter from the ference. This year the conference now work more closely with ESCH- Chairman was hosted in partnership by the FOE and its members to improve AGM and American National Chimney Sweep the national and international chim- Guild and the Chimney Safety ney sweeping industry. Exhibition 2012 Institute of America and we would The second announcement was Barry Chislett like to thank both organisations and that the Guild has been awarded Bruce member all of those that were involved for the honour of hosting the 2013 their hospitality. The conference profile ESCHFOE Technical Meeting. This was a great success and we gained Martin Tradewell – will see delegates from over 20 dif- valuable technical information. It ferent countries travel to the UK to Member Refresher was also valuable to see how a big find out how we operate in our in- Course event is run. dustry and the advances that have Bogus Sweeps The Guild has actively supported been made since 2011. ESCHFOE because we believe that The view from Which just so happens to coincide by working together we can achieve Andalucía with the Guild’s 20th Anniversary. more. More respect for well trained Chimney Horrors professional chimney sweeps and Everyone involved with Guild has better safety standards for the pub- been working hard to improve work- Events Diary lic not just in the UK but worldwide. ing standards as well as the service that the Guild provides. At this years meeting there were two announcements in particular We believe that the recognition we that we as a Guild are extremely have received from ESCHFOE Edited by excited about. highlights that as an organisation we are moving in the right direction. Lawson Wight Firstly, following a vote by all ESCHFOE members, the Guild Produced by have been granted a chair and a vote in the Federation. This means the Guild now represents the UK 1 A letter from the Chairman The board of the Guild has been place, wow. There is even a chim- very busy of late and in this news- ney sweeping Museum albeit a letter we will point out some of small one. Even though Sascha what we have achieved and what and I went on a private trip to this we have been doing on your be- festival we still, of course, repre- half. sented the UK in the parades along with Ken Linford of NACS. As you probably know the Guild You can see by the pictures that have been guest members of will be posted on our site that it’s a ESCHFOE for several years. This fun place to be and all are wel- year the ESCHFOE group voted come. the Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps as full members and as The board have been working very such the Guild is now the only hard to raise the profile and aware- chimney sweeping organisation ness of the Guild. We are using within the UK whom is able to vote several methods to accomplish at a European level at meetings. this. Primarily we have revamped ESCHFOE affects us chimney the website and undertaken a re- sweeps a great deal and it is good branding programme. Further to this we have attended all of the to be in the loop with new legisla- tion and information. I will not go major shows including Hearth and into this further as Sascha has a Home and The HETAS Road report elsewhere in this letter. Show. Incidentally the Guild was the only chimney sweeping organi- The Santa Maria Maggiore Chim- zation in attendance at these ney Sweeps Festival is one which events. More importantly than any- celebrates the end of the chimney thing the board can do, the mem- climbing boys. Santa Maria Maggi- bers are spreading the word and ore is a small mountain town in Ita- raising industry standards. ly which was so very poor that Keep up the good work and good people were happy to give their sons to chimney sweeps to be- luck for the season. come climbing boys so that they Yours Faithfully could feed the remaining members of their families. This year I attend- ed the festival personally and it was an extravaganza I can honest- ly say that I have never seen as Daniel Hodgson many chimney sweeps in one 2 Awards will once AGM and Exhibition 2012 again be up for The dates are booked! grabs: Best Newcomer Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd June 2012 Best Chimney Horrors Whether you come to see what has happened in the Guild over the year, to meet up and socialise with friends or to take ad- Best Van vantage of the great offers available from the Guild’s Associate Members. This event gets better each year and is not one to be missed— make a note of the dates now! If you have any thoughts on what you want to be featured at next year’s event just let us know. In order to build on the success of this year, we have decided that the event will once again be held at the Waltham Abbey Marriott. We realise there are some members who would like to see the venue move around the country. We have discussed this at length and feel that for next year at least we need to build on the momen- tum generated so far and that the Waltham Abbey venue will work well for us. We will have outgrown this venue after next year and would then look to moving the meeting elsewhere. “For me, as the sweep of our business, the AGM is definitely a date in the diary that is not to be missed. The Guild AGM keeps me in touch and up to date with the way our industry is going forward” Mark Hagon 3 4 Guild Member Profile No. 12 Barry Chislett-Bruce How long have you been sweep- Was in the Army from school ing chimneys and how did you get What do you find most frustrating started? about the industry? Have been sweeping since 2000, I People not listening to how important watched a chimney sweep, sweep it is regarding every aspect of main- my cottage at a time in my life when taining and sweeping of every type things weren’t so good and I thought of chimney and flue I’d like to have a go at that and it gave me something to focus on and have not looked back since. What do you like most about be- “[I like] the ing a chimney sweep? flexibility of The flexibility of being able to man- What first attracted you to the being able to age my own time, working in the business? manage my New Forest and most of all seeing It was something I had to prove to how pleased a customer is after the own time, myself I could do and of course job working in the working in and about the beautiful New Forest New Forest. What do you like least? and most of all In and out of houses in the rain and Is sweeping your full time busi- seeing how people making me Earl Grey Tea!!! ness? If not, what else do you pleased a do? customer is Yes, full time What do you like to do when you are not working? after the job” Sleep, Eat, lay in the bath, enjoy my Do you work alone? If not who Motorcycle. Being with my family helps you and how? Yes, work alone How long have you been involved with the Guild and why did you What did you do prior to chimney join? sweeping? I joined in 2004, I ummed and 5 Guild Member Profile No. 12 Barry Chislett-Bruce arghed between the N.A.C.S and the viced every year. The chimney Guild for a couple of years. Being sweep must be listened to and taken the Elite in the Army, I wanted to fol- more seriously than he or she is at low that path and the very first thing this present day. I believe, we, as that appealed to me was the The Guild of Master Chimney name. After meeting Dave Sweeps must keep pushing into the Wooffindin, I knew it was the Guild future, at the same time the work of Of Master Chimney Sweeps for the members must be at its highest me. If it wasn’t for David I wouldn’t level and above at all times be here today and I have the great- “finding a child’s est respect for David and his wife. If you have any particular sweep- size 6 Victorian ing story or anecdote you’d like to Slipper [in the What is your most memorable share, then write it here. chimney]. The sweeping experience? There are many, many stories I Police were Doing a wedding at Highclere Castle could tell. Funny ones, sad ones, and sweeping a cottage on the Isle stupid mistake ones, but for me giv- called and the Of Wight and finding a child’s size 6 en 110% in every home, pub, hotel, cottage was Victorian Slipper. The Police were restaurant, manor house, castle and cordoned off, called and the cottage was cordoned even ship I walk into and hearing the off, nothing else was found.