This photo by Paul Blinny shows a recent festive get-together by the Guild East Midlands and South Yorkshire group at Ranby village in Nottinghamshire. Some 19 sweeps enjoyed a meal, plenty of laughter, and a raffle, which raised £360.
See all meeting details below.
AHEAD of our AGM at the Trade Exhibition in March we are co-ordinating Regional Meetings around the country. Your input at these meetings will help us bring forward the most pressing and popular items to discuss at the AGM.
Please see below for details of meetings currently confirmed. There are more meetings still to be confirmed and we’ll email you with details of additional dates and venues as we get them. Please contact the meeting host if you have questions. A big thanks to all our meeting hosts, they give their time freely to help us all.
Working as a chimney sweep is challenging at the best of times, juggling self-employment with other aspects such as educating customers, your own training needs and balancing your budget.
There’s no doubt we’re all passionate about our work but it can still feel a bit lonely at times – and that’s why the Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps was founded more than 25 years ago. Simply stated: we need each other.
Our unique community provides a support base to reassure you that you’re not alone. The social hub for that comes not only from our annual trade show, and online networking – but the regional meetings.
Regional meetings give a chance for Guild sweeps to share their knowledge and learn from each other; receive constructive criticism on what you’re doing right and what you’re doing wrong; discover new opportunities and referrals and, more than anything, enjoy banter with others in the trade who really do know ‘where you’re coming from’.
So… 2019 presents exciting times at our regional meetings. Please do attend the nearest get-together in your region.
“These are very interesting times to be a chimney sweep,” says Sascha Meding, Vice Chairman of the Guild, “especially with the recent publication of the Clean Air Strategy and ongoing popularity of stoves and fires over the past 20 years.”
CONFIRMED MEETINGS to date – we will email you with further dates as they are confirmed.
Hereford / Gloucester
Date & Time: 8th Feb @ 1900hrs.
Venue: Inn on the Wye, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire, HR9 5QS
Contact: Glenn Howatt. Tel: 07801 740516 Email:glennthechimneysweep@outlook.com
Dorset / South West
Date & Time: Friday 8th February @ 13.00
Venue: The Duchess Of Cornwall Inn, 12 Queen Mother Square, Poundbury, Dorchester, DT1 3DD
Contact: Robert Erskine. Tel: 01308 867486 Email: rob.erskine@thechimneykeepers.co.uk
Wales
Date & Time: Friday 8th February @ 10am
Venue: Centre for Alternative, Technology, Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 9AZ
Contact: Frantisek: 078 2415 0016. frantiseksic43@gmail.com
London
Date & Time: Monday 4th February @7.30pm
Venue: The Goat, 66 Battersea Rise, Clapham, Greater London, SW11 1EQ
Contact: Ed Wilson. Tel: 0208 2413213 Email: citysweepslondon@gmail.com
South
Date & Time: Wednesday 6th February @ 6.30 P.M
Venue: The Spotted Dog, Gladstone Lane, Cold Ash, Thatcham, RG18 9PR
(Meal Options Available-Please contact Trevor)
Contact: Trevor Howard. Tel: 075 3127 7668. Email: trevor@howardthesweep.co.uk
Midlands
Date & Time: Thursday 7th February @ 6.30 P.M
Venue: The Talbot Hotel, Eatery and Coffee House, New Street, Oundle, Northamptonshire, PE8 4EA
Contact: Russell Peace. Tel: 077 2579 5394/ 01536 510865. Email: russell.peace@virgin.net
Manchester / North West
Date & Time: Friday 15th February @ 11.30 A.M
Venue: Puss In Boots pub, 147 Nangreave Road, Offerton, Stockport, SK2 6DG
*** If you want to order food please call David Sudworth – 07724 311992 or email: david@Mr-soot.com
Contact: David Barnes, Emma Roddy & David Sudworth
Emma: Tel: 079 1871 3302. Email: e.roddy@sparklingflues.co.uk
David.S: Tel: 079 8547 0583. Email: david@mr-soot.com
David.B: Tel: 079 0415 5899. Email: chimney.safe@yahoo.co.uk
SOUTH EAST
Date & Time: Thursday 31st January @ 3.00 P.M
Venue: The Chandler’s Ford Central Club, 2 Winchester Road, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO53 2FZ (Parking is free and it is opposite the railway station)
Contact: Les Bowering. Tel: 078 8909 5358. Email: lesbowering@fsmail.net
East Anglia
Date & Time: Tuesday 29th January @ 2.00 P.M
Venue: The Charles Burrell Centre, Staniforth Road, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 3LH
Contact: Andrew Lovick & Gavin Cater
Andrew: Tel: 078 7680 4575. Email: andrew.lovick@gmail.com
Gavin: Tel: 078 6013 7701. Email: gav@bryancater.co.uk
Scotland – Aberdeenshire
Date and Time: Saturday 26th January @ 11am
Venue: The Redgarth, Kirk Brae, Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire, AB51 0DJ
Contact: John Stone. Text: 07594 634409. Email: john@diamondsweeps.com
Bristol area
Date and Time: Tuesday 5th Feb @ 7.30pm
Venue: The Kingswood Colliers (Weatherspoons), 94 -96 Regent Street, Kingswood, BS15 8HP
Contact: Dave Merritt. Tel: 07825 703607. Email: info@dpm-stovesandchimneysweep.co.uk
Hertfordshire
Date and Time: Saturday 2nd February @10am – 12pm
Venue: Jacoby’s Tavern & Kitchen, Churchgate House, 13-15 West Street, Ware, Hertfordshire, SG12 9EE
(Free Parking at Tesco, Dickenson Way, SG12 7BX)
Contact: Paul Morgan. Tel. 07841 665656. Email: paul@morganchimneysweeps.co.uk
Staffordshire area
Date and Time: Wednesday 6th February @ 6.30pm
Venue: Cross Keys, 42 Hill Street, Hednesford, Staffordshire, WS12 2DN
Contact: Simon Guy-Holt. Tel. 07748 628535 Email: info@achimneysweep.co.uk