IT was not just the Queen, the island’s Lord of Mann, who celebrated a Diamond Jubilee during 2012.
The answer is in the name of chimney sweep Ivan Park’s one-man business, Ideal Cleaners1952 Ltd.
The business itself was set up 60 years ago by other people but Ivan, 68, of Pulrose, Douglas, has been at the helm for more than 40 years.
A New Year superstition in some parts of the British Isles involves ‘first footing’ where the first person to enter a person’s house on New Year’s Day brings luck for the rest of the year. It is traditional to carry a lump of coal when first footing.
Ivan comes across lots of coal along with soot and mucky chimneys doing his job which takes him to addresses big and small all over the island. His black van is a familiar sight parked outside homes from Ballaugh in the north to Port Erin in the south. Most of his business is by recommendations and word of mouth.
But the year 2012 was also tinged with sadness as his wife Brenda, 78, died in Noble’s Hospital in November. They had been married for 42 years.
Ivan said he had been ‘touched’ by the outpouring of sympathy from the many customers he calls friends.
He has received more than 150 sympathy cards from customers and friends.
He said: ‘It has been really touching. My wife was a director of the company and many people knew her because she answered the phone and would deal with taking their names and addresses.’
Ivan has been taking a break enjoying the festive season with his family which includes daughters Jennifer and Carolyn. He has two grandsons.
But he has no plans to hang up his gear just yet and says that is something his wife would have approved of.
