Obituary: John Redburn, the Borders' best-known chimney sweep

Jock Redburn pictured during his working days beside his prized Ford Anglia van

John Redburn, chimney sweep. Born: 9 July, 1932, in Edinburgh. Died: 3 October, 2021, in Newtown St Boswells, aged 89

It is said that anyone seeing a chimney sweep, or shaking hands with one, will have good luck for the rest of the day. Folk who knew Jock Redburn, the Scottish Borders’ best-known chimney sweep, felt themselves lucky to have such an incomparable figure in their lives.

Mr Redburn, who died peacefully in his Newtown St Boswells home on October 3, at the age of 89, continued to sweep chimneys for 63 years, only stopping when ill-health intervened two years ago.

Never without a smile on his face, Mr Redburn’s lively sense of humour and unfailingly cheerful outlook made him a welcome visitor to the home of every customer.

His musical talents, passion for vintage cars, as well as an innate ability to turn his hand to any job that might come his way, marked him out as one of the Borders’ true characters.

John Redburn was born in Edinburgh on July 9, 1932. His father Joe had worked as a ploughman in East Lothian, before he and his wife Martha (née Strachan) moved to Earlston, where Joe was employed as a builder’s labourer.

‘Jock the Sweep’ (as he was later to be fondly known) was the youngest of the Redburns’ four children, his siblings being Andrew, Martha and James.

Educated at Earlston Primary, Jock left school at 13 without being able to read or write, skills he would later teach himself during his time in the army.