Hinckley Herald, 4 Oct 2012

Garry Temperley proving a good luck charm to brides

For good luck on your wedding day, something old and something new just won’t cut it according to chimney sweep Garry Temperley.

Hinckley resident Garry Temperley doesn’t just stick to cleaning soot from chimneys – he does weddings too!

The 49-year-old dons his top hat and tails, complete with a blacked-out face, to ‘kiss the bride’ on her wedding day.

Garry said:

Before bride goes down the aisle in the church I will lean over and give her a kiss for good luck. It didn’t used to be very popular but I have done a few more weddings recently. Chimney sweeps are said to be very lucky people and the kiss on the wedding day is meant to bring happiness to the marriage. Why wouldn’t I do it? I get to kiss a pretty lady!

The tradition is said to come from hundreds of years ago after a brave chimney sweep stopped King George II’s horse and coach as it bolted. From then on the King announced by Royal Decree that all sweeps are lucky.

Garry said:

I think we are lucky. My daughter’s boyfriend’s mother went to visit a psychic because she wanted to know when her son would find love. After that she bought a chimney sweep statue and two days later her son and my daughter met.

Garry started to learn about the trade when he was in Scotland. He added:

One day a chimney sweep came to a job and I said that it looked easy. He told me it was anything but so I went out with him to see what it was like and I haven’t stopped since. It has changed recently – we used to sweep from the roof down, but now because of health and safety it has all changed. It’s an honest job for an honest day’s pay and I love it.