Tributes to former chimney sweep (From This Is Local London)

Tributes to East Sheen's Ted Vine, who died aged 100

6:50am Tuesday 26th January 2010 in Where I Live By Joanna Kilvington

One of East Sheen's best known characters has died just two months after celebrating his 100th birthday.

Great-grandfather Ted Vine, who ran a bike repair business until his death, spent his whole life in the same Upper Richmond Road house where he was born.

He became a familiar face thanks to his fondness for sitting outside his house on a fine day to watch the world go by with a Guinness in his hand.

His granddaughter Beverely Stephens said: “He was very well known in Sheen. We’ve had a lot of people knocking on his door wondering why they hadn’t seen him.

“He died peacefully in his sleep, which is the way he wanted it to be.

“He always said the only way he would be taken out of the house was in a box.”

Mr Vine’s house has been in the family since the early 1900s when they took over the lease for the princely sum of 14 shillings a week.

Ted’s grandfather set up a chimney sweeping business in 1850, before passing it on to Ted’s father and then Ted.

When Ted retired from the chimney sweep business in the 1960s he opened Ted’s cycles, restoring bikes bought at police auctions and carrying out repairs.

His son Colin carried on the chimney sweep business, which is now run by Ted’s grandson Richard.

Mr Vine continued to fix bikes up until his death and remained self-sufficient, doing his own cleaning, preparing his meals and riding his mobility scooter to Sainsbury's for a weekly shop.

A horse and carriage is due to carry Mr Vine on his final journey from his home to Mortlake Crematorium on February 6. A funeral service will be held at 1.30pm.

A reception will be held in the Hare and Hounds pub, in Upper Richmond Road, following the service, where Mr Vine used to enjoy a drink.

A chimney sweep brush will be laid alongside him in the coffin.

Mr Vine leaves behind six grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren, including a one-month old baby who was named Ted after his great-granddad.

Mrs Stephens said: “It was nice Ted got to see his great-grandson before he died.

“It’s very sad.”

Mr Vine died last Wednesday.