By Lorraine Butler, of Pearce & Grandson Chimney Sweeps, Bromley.

‘I married into a 300-year-old dynasty of chimney sweeps. Our business is called Pearce & Grandson because my husband, Steve, started out working for his grandfather, Percy Pearce, whose six brothers were all sweeps, as were generations before them. I know a great deal about chimneys now, because I take orders and give people advice on the phone.

Chimney sweeping hasn't changed much over the years. He goes up on roofs more than other sweeps, because he fits liners and replaces pots and cowls. He's very confident about heights, but on windy days, I do worry about him'.

Steve says - ‘I swept my first chimney aged eight - I think Percy just took me along to keep me out of mischief. Then, when I was 21 and out of work, he offered me one day a week - which soon turned into five, and suddenly I was a chimney sweep. Percy loved the business and I know he was very happy that I was carrying on the tradition.'

Steve's mum, Sheila, 70 says:
‘I took phone orders for my dad from the age of nine. He and his brothers all worked independently, but would get together on big jobs. I remember that there were rows occasionally if somebody poached someone else's patch, but we were a close family and would all get together at my Uncle Tom's big house in Eltham.

I had lots of chimney sweeps "for luck" at my wedding. This tradition began after a chimney sweep stopped King George II's horse from bolting. The king apparently declared that they brought good fortune.'