CHIM chiminey, chim chiminey, chim chim cher-ee,

A sweep is as lucky, as lucky can be.

That effectively summed up my knowledge about chimney sweeping until recently.

So, considering I am probably small enough to fit up a chimney, it was with a degree of trepidation I approached my first day in the sweeping trade.

Malcolm Carvill, of Carvill and Son, seemed to fit the bill perfectly. Affable and entertaining he says the personal side of then job is part of its charm.

After a brief introduction, I set out to the jobs with Malcolm – who for the day played the Bert to my Michael Banks.

As it happens I did not have to worry too much about avoiding Mary Poppins innuendos.

"It's an unavoidable association really," said Malcolm. "Most folks hear chimney sweep and think Mary Poppins, it's quite a nice link for people."

The personable man-about-town character is very important to the trade.

Malcolm explains: "I like to have a laugh and a joke with the customers. It's a personal trade, you're wandering around in their house."

Arriving at the first job I was put straight into work. While Malcolm assessed the three chimneys, I was sent to fetch the rods and dust blankets.

"Walking around like a traditional sweep," he chuckles as I walk into the room with dust blankets draped over my shoulder.

Brimming with that confidence I stride off to find the rods, only to be reminded I have no idea what I'm doing as I put them in the wrong place.

"Rods go on the left always, so we can build the brush as we go," Malcolm explains, then laughs as I put them too close to the fire place to be used.

Sticking to the basics, I help remove loft insulation which is blocking the chimney, bag it and carry it out to the bins.

Covered in soot I figure, if nothing else, I at least look the part.

It turns out, while many trades have developed new machines to help with the job, sweeps still use the same basic tools they traditionally did.

Granted, the rods are now propylene rather than cane, because it doesn't splinter, and a vacuum is used to clean up, but it is still all done by hand.

After the sweep, my job was to clear up the fallen debris, while Malcolm checked the cowl on the top of the chimney.

Two chimneys later, the job was done, followed by the all important clean-up.

With individual sweeps and customers the clean up is as important as the job

After tidying away Malcolm delivered his assessment to the client.

I was pleased to see the lack of understanding on my face was mirrored on the client's as we both realised how little we understood about the subject at hand.

Malcolm simplified matters for us, likening chimneys to MacDonald's' milkshake straws, with a thinner tube improving the drawing of smoke.

Malcolm not only understands chimney maintenance and fire safety, but also knows workmen who can do the job.

Back in the van, quick-stepping to the next job, I learnt more about my teacher for the day.

Malcolm, 51, has more than 25 years experience, but he took up the trade later than some.

In keeping with the fairytale connotations of the job, he chose it on his wife's advice following a sweeps visit to his house during a "rough time" in his life.

"People don't know where to find sweeps to do the job, so they ask for the card because chimney sweeping is personal," Malcolm says.

"You get all types of people, and I have to adjust to all types of people. Some people talk to you, some talk down to you."

The second sweep of the day is a long-standing customer, one of Malcolm's "damsels in distress" who he helped out when birds moved into her chimney.

The joy of giving people back the light and joy of their fireplace and chimney is one of his primary motivations.

I'm staying well away from this one, apparently the chimney has a convector box which can be damaged if you get it wrong.

Back on the road, and Malcolm gets a call from his wife to discuss their 11-year-old son, Joe. Being self-employed, Malcolm fits his work around his family.

It strikes me that, like the singing, dancing chirpy sweeps of the stories, Malcolm's job seems to bring him great pleasure.

"I'm the richest man on my street, and it's nothing to do with money," he grinned.

"I'm mindful that I'm very lucky to have a good job I enjoy, and I am able to give my family what they need."

Back at the house briefly between jobs, my eye is caught by the ice cream vans in the drive.

Apparently, with chimney sweeps being out of demand during the hot summer months, Malcolm takes on a secondary trade as an ice cream man.

A short time later we arrive at our next stop, Nescot College, Epsom, but there's no chimney to be swept here.

Malcolm is registering for an evening plumbing course. Moving through the crowds of students, he explains: "I'd like to add another string to my bow.

"I'm receptive to learning, and I can afford to take an evening a week to get another hands-on skill. So why not?"

So, a short while later, I leave Nescot, alongside Malcolm Carvill, chimney sweep, ice cream man and student.

Quite the repertoire.

Suddenly, Malcolm's phone is thrust into my hands: "Here, talk to my daughter."

A short conversation with Michaela, 29, confirms everything I have observed so far.

"Ask him about the weddings," she prompted.

As a side to the actual sweeping, Malcolm can be hired for weddings as a lucky chimney sweep, greeting brides and grooms and fussing over family members.

His trade seems to have made Malcolm quite the socialite of the area, running into friends at every turn.

My natural cynicism over some of the tales evaporates as every fact seems to check out.

Malcolm has a range of friends and clients, ranging from actors and colonels, to former boxing champions, enough to populate a story book.

Story or not, I had no doubt I was spending the day with quite a character.

After a late lunch at one of Malcolm's "normal haunts" we head to the final job.

Managing to set up the kit, help with the sweep and clear up without causing a problem, I feel I am finally getting into my stride.

The couple living in the house know Malcolm, having been recommended to him by a previous sweep, and watched us with some interest.

"How long have you been a sweep?" I was asked. The answer of six hours seemed to take the lady slightly aback.

After a cup of tea and some advice on replacing the box on top of the chimney, we were on our way again.

Malcolm was in his element: "A nice cup of tea, a chat, and decent money, how many jobs can say that?"

I reflect that, at £40 a chimney, and five chimneys for the day, Malcolm has done well for his day's work.

A long standing member of National Association of Chimney Sweeps, and a registered HETAS engineer, Malcolm believes people underestimate his job.

As he explains chimney maintenance and the dangers of blockages, I make a mental note to tell my parents to get theirs swept.

Alongside the ice cream vans in Malcolm's driveway is a collection of cowls and tops, used in the brickwork and maintenance side of the job.

As I took my leave at the end of day, there was a final piece of encouragement and advice: "Maybe you missed your calling.

"You might have potential as a sweep, and it's a 'learn by doing' job."

With a wave, Malcolm was off to his project for the weekend, selling jerk chicken at the Notting Hill carnival.

And with sooty hands, and a spring in my step, I set off, realising that there really may be no happier bloke than the humble chimney sweep.