Sweep providing a ‘21st century essential service’ in Wigan

Unclogging soot-filled flues is not a career many will have considered since Victorian times.
David Sudworth with his trusty brushDavid Sudworth with his trusty brush
David Sudworth with his trusty brush

But for Wigan dad David Sudworth, it has been a way of life for five years now after setting himself up as Mr Soot - Chimney Sweep.

His services in the Wigan, Manchester and Salford areas include sweeping, servicing and installing multi-fuel stoves, woodburners and open fires, flue integrity/pressure testing, CCTV inspections, professional chemical tar treatment and bird nest removal.

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The Ashton 41-year-old says many people are fascinated on discovering his job, no least because they are surprised such work exists anymore.

David at work on a stoveDavid at work on a stove
David at work on a stove

But while he is one of only a few hundred registered across the country, David says they still carry out a vital role - including during lockdown.

David, who has a daughter and two stepchildren and lives with his teacher partner Michele, has a background in media and marketing but explains how the dramatic career change came about.

“I’ve always loved real fireplaces. As a kid growing up in Ashton, we had an old style solid fuel Parkray backboiler and I remember very vividly enjoying eating my breakfast in front of it before going to school. The fire got taken out in the 1980s so when I got my own house, I had a ‘real’ fireplace installed and it all started from there.”

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In terms of qualifications, David said he is a fully qualified NVQ Level 2 chimney sweep, as well as being a Master Sweep with the Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps and a HETAS Approved Sweep.

He is also a registered solid fuel installer and co-founder of Burnright, a national campaign to help people understand the importance of using the right fuels in the right way.

With the coronavirus crisis also raging, David said it had not really affected him, as he said it is “essential” chimneys are swept with the risk of fire that they attract.

In fact he said he recently discovered that Wigan has the highest rate of chimney fires in the whole of Greater Manchester - and that incidents are at their highest at this time of the year.

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David said: “I tend to wear a mask and gloves anyway, and - due to the nature of my work - most customers were socially distancing before it became fashionable. The government has never told tradespeople that we can’t enter people’s homes, although many - including myself - stopped for a short while during the first lockdown.

“It’s essential that fireplaces are swept and I think more and more people recognise this.

“Having a chimney fire is a terrifying experience and they only occur either through incorrect installation or lack of sweeping.”