I will remain as a member. It is a decision I never thought I would have to make, but as some of you will already know, I’ve had surgery on both hands having had replacement thumb joints. It is thought that my years of carrying heavy coal sacks caused irreparable wear on my thumb joints. The operations have gone well but I am no longer able to carry out the physically demanding sweeping and installation work that I have loved for the last 26 years. As I have only ever worked in the solid fuel trade, I am happy to say that I’m staying in the industry and have taken a full-time position with HETAS as an installations inspector, starting on the 5th October. My sweeping business will carry on being a Guild registered business with my wife Claire and Ryan at the helm.
Time at the Guild
I joined as a member of the Guild in 2008 after attending the first ever guild training course, held in one of the board members houses. I later learned that this was the first ever sweeps training course held in the UK. I had been sweeping chimneys for 8 years already, but realize I only became a proper sweep after joining.
Training
In 2011 I was asked by Lawson if I would become an on-site trainer. A little reluctantly I accepted and started to take new sweeps out with me on the job. I absolutely loved it and found it hugely rewarding. It also kept me up to date and on the ball. The best part of this though was meeting so many lovely people who I’m still friends with.
The next step for me was to become a qualified assessor. I put myself through the relevant qualification and started to assess new members for the Guild.
2020 was a big year as I was voted on to the board of directors by my fellow members. This was a huge honour of which I am very proud. I have tried my hardest to bring something to the table and play my part in shaping the future of the Guild and our wider trade. Just after the AGM that year I also took on the role of leading the Guild training courses in England. At first I was not sure if I was capable of standing up in front of a class, but with the help of a great team behind me, I managed to wing it for the first couple and then grow into the role to a point where I absolutely loved it. Along with help from the rest of the board and training team I feel that in my time, we have pushed on and improved the course content and delivery to the point where it is unrivalled in our trade. I know lots of you who now have thriving sweep businesses appreciate the time and dedication put in by the team and myself. Hopefully we got you off to the best start. My main focus during my involvement with training has always been standards, ensuring Guild sweeps are and continue to be the best in the business, and long may this continue.
Leaving
I’m leaving on the best of terms and as I said before, it really has been a difficult decision and a wrench to leave, who knows what the future holds. I’ll be leaving you in good hands though as the board members are top people who really do have your backs and always seek the best outcomes for you the members, and the sweeping trade as a whole. I have made some wonderful friends both at board and membership levels and will be keeping in touch. Hopefully I will see lots of you for a catch up in Nottingham at Sweep Stuff Live next April.
Yours sincerely
Gavin Cater
Letter from the Board
Lawson Wight writes on behalf of the Guild Board
It took a while for the news to sink in – Gavin Cater is leaving his Guild work. Since joining the Guild board in 2009, I’ve worked alongside a dozen other directors and there has certainly been no one better.
I was part of the team who developed and delivered the first ever UK sweep training course in 2007 / 2008, and Gavin was one of the two candidates on that first course (alongside Phil Byrne, Kent). From that moment on his enthusiasm for the chimney sweeping industry went into overdrive – I think, like many of us, he kind of found his tribe.
The AGM and trade exhibition (now Sweep Stuff Live) was always a firm fixture on Gavin’s calendar, and it was great to see some valuable friendships developing over the years. It’s easy for me to spot someone who has the temperament and skills to dabble with a little training, and that’s what happened. Fast forward several years and I approached Gavin suggesting he step up and lead the main training course. He was reluctant at first, but this was solely due to a lack of confidence and a thought that he didn’t have enough technical knowledge. I pointed out that the most important thing in training was enthusiasm, which he had in buckets. The technical knowledge could follow and that’s just what happened. Thankfully Gavin got stuck into it and the rest is history.
Gavin’s contribution to the Guild shouldn’t be underestimated, and it spills out well beyond our association. Many members would not have the same business they have today without his direct help and guidance. Even if you’ve never had the pleasure of training with Gavin, he’s made a valuable contribution to the Guild through his time on the board. Setting strategies and steering the direction of the Guild and our industry can be a fraught business at times. Gavin has been a very competent director, his measured and considered opinions contributing to many important decisions. We’ve not seen eye to eye on every issue but that’s what sometimes gives the best outcome.
I know I can speak for the whole board in saying he’ll be sorely missed and it’s no easy task for us to fill the big space left behind. I know we’ll see him at future trade exhibitions (you’ll probably hear him before you see him of course).
The Guild’s loss is HETAS gain, they are truly lucky to have recruited such a personable and dedicated individual. I feel lucky to count Gavin as one of the best Guild directors I’ve worked with and as a good friend.
Tony Lavin has worked most closely with Gavin on the delivery of courses over the last few years (even becoming his ‘driver’ following the thumb surgeries). Tony added the following words: Gavin has been a huge asset to Guild Training and to the Guild as a whole. I have had the privilege and pleasure of working with him on the courses over the last five or so years. Personal circumstances have dictated his move away from the Guild. He will be sadly missed by me in particularly and by the Guild as an organisation.
We wish Gavin and Claire all the very best.
Lawson Wight, Chair
On behalf of the Guild Board
