Denmead woman restored 1959 Bedford CA van left in barn for 40 years and now uses it for her chimney sweeping business

A vintage Bedford CA van has been restored to its full glory and it is now being used as part of a chimney sweeping business.
By Sophie Lewis
Published 21st Jul 2023, 18:35 BST

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Susan Oliver has been exposed to the chimney sweeping industry for years as her partner has his own business, Oliver Chimney Sweep, and after attending a business event, she decided that she wanted to get involved in the industry full time.

Susan, from Denmead, decided to start a course to become a professionally qualified chimney sweep and she passed the courses within four weeks as she already had a good knowledge about the industry.

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It was when she began the journey that her husband said that she should join the family business in a vintage car – and that is exactly what she did.

Susan Oliver (48) from Denmead, owns a 1959 Bedford CA van called Nancy which she operates her business Oliver Chimney Sweep from. Picture: Sarah Standing (140723-6687)Susan Oliver (48) from Denmead, owns a 1959 Bedford CA van called Nancy which she operates her business Oliver Chimney Sweep from. Picture: Sarah Standing (140723-6687)
Susan Oliver (48) from Denmead, owns a 1959 Bedford CA van called Nancy which she operates her business Oliver Chimney Sweep from. Picture: Sarah Standing (140723-6687)

After passing her training course, she discovered a 1959 Bedford CA van in Fareham and made the decision to take it home and restore it.

The van, which Susan calls Nancy, was in a bad way after being left in a barn, unused, for approximately 40 years and it has taken her over two years to get the van back to how it should be.

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Susan said: ‘We have had to have the engine rebuilt. We got her done last year and then the engine stopped working so we had to rebuild the whole thing.

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Susan Oliver (48) from Denmead, owns a 1959 Bedford CA van called Nancy which she operates her business Oliver Chimney Sweep from. Picture: Sarah Standing (140723-6693)Susan Oliver (48) from Denmead, owns a 1959 Bedford CA van called Nancy which she operates her business Oliver Chimney Sweep from. Picture: Sarah Standing (140723-6693)
Susan Oliver (48) from Denmead, owns a 1959 Bedford CA van called Nancy which she operates her business Oliver Chimney Sweep from. Picture: Sarah Standing (140723-6693)

‘We have been in the business for about 18 years and now my kids have grown up and gone to university, I don’t have to do the school run anymore and I had more time.

‘Nancy had been in a barn for 40 years and we got her back together again – Nancy now works and so do I.

‘She has been pretty reliable and she has got a lot of attention, not just from older people but I get youngsters come up and ask about her – it’s really nice actually – Nancy is a bit limited of how far she can go but she can do about an hour’s drive.’

Oliver Chimney Sweep, which is operated by Susan and her husband, offers chimney sweeping services all across the area and they will travel as far as Guildford.

For more information about Oliver Chimney Sweep, click here.

Related topics:DenmeadBedfordFarehamPortsmouth