Untouchable 2016

Add captionTerry "Turbo" Burrows, untouchable in speed window cleaning on the last day of the Manchester cleaning show.

Fastest window washer cleans up competition in just 20 seconds: Nimble Neil Caden has won the title of the fastest window washer after cleaning up the competition in just 20 seconds. The 50-year-old, from Leeds, West Yorks., wiped the floor with the younger lads - and used his skills as a black belt in karate to wax-on, wax-off the competition. 

Sadly he did not beat 20-year recorder holder Essex-based Terry Burrows (pictured top), whose best ever time for cleaning three 1.143m high windows is just 9.14 seconds, at the trade event held in Manchester on Wednesday. Terry says his success is down to a quickfire 16-move sequence that draws on skills he honed as a martial arts instructor and boxer. Sadly, Terry is banned from entering any further competitions to let others stand a chance at winning.

BBC News - Terry 'Turbo' Williams' window washing world record challenged: Terry "Turbo" Burrows, officially the world's fastest window cleaner for more than 20 years, is challenging rivals from around the UK to try to beat his world record time. He set the Guinness World Record of 9.14 seconds in Blackpool in 2009, and is now in Manchester to see if he is still a "glass" above the rest. Contenders have to clean three 1.143m high windows and the sill - crucially, no smears can be left. The event coincides with the 80th anniversary of George Formby's hit When I'm Cleaning Windows.

Buttershaw window cleaner takes prize at The Cleaning Show: A window cleaner is back in Bradford with a big bucket of prizes after a sparkling performance in a national contest. Graham Bower, of Buttershaw Drive, Buttershaw, beat off stiff competition from window cleaners across the country today at The Cleaning Show in Manchester. He was the speediest cleaner there today, but not quite as quick as the record set by world champion, Terry 'Turbo' Burrows from Suffolk. He set the Guinness World Record of 9.14 seconds in Blackpool in 2009. Contenders had to clean three 1.143m high windows and the sill - and could leave no smears.

The event coincides with the 80th anniversary of George Formby's hit When I'm Cleaning Windows. "I came first in the competition but didn't quite catch up with Terry. I was about a second out," he said. Even though Mr Bower's time was 12.01 seconds he did get a few penalty points for soap streaks. "Even with the penalties I was still on top. It was well worth having a go. Terry's quick but not quite as quick as he used to be - even he couldn't match his world record," he added. Mr Bower, 35, started cleaning windows at the age of 12 and now runs his own business. He won a Kindle Fire tablet and a big bucket full of beer. "I'm going to keep practising my speeds. Who knows I might be back for another go at the world record next year," he said.

Soap And Glory!

Neil Caden ready for Soap & Glory.

Soap and glory! Leeds window cleaner eyes place in record books: Leeds window cleaner Neil Caden is looking to produce a perfectly polished performance as he bids to earn himself a spot in the record books. Neil, 50, from Garforth, will be trying to set a new world record for fastest window cleaning at a trade event taking place in Manchester next week.

The record has been held for more than 20 years by Essex-based Terry Burrows, whose best ever time for cleaning three 1.143m high windows is just 9.14 seconds. Terry says his success is down to a quickfire 16-move sequence that draws on skills he honed as a martial arts instructor and boxer.

But Neil – who runs Caden’s Window Cleaning in Garforth – is himself a black belt in karate and believes he might have the right stuff to dethrone Terry. The Yorkshire challenger, who will be joined at the record attempt by three more members of the Caden team, said: “Terry is a legend in the world of window cleaning and his record has stood for over 20 years. 

“However, I’m pretty quick myself and also share the same strength, agility and flexibility as him which comes from years of combat training. “With a bit of intensive practice, I therefore might be in a great position to have a go at beating his time. “There’s also a chance one of my team could snatch it from Terry, but even if none of us get close to his time the world record attempt is a great way to demonstrate the skills and professionalism of Britain’s window cleaners.”

Dozens of window cleaners from around the country are expected to have a crack at beating the record during the Cleaning Show trade event, which is being held on Wednesday and Thursday. The attempts are being organised and adjudicated on behalf of the Guinness Book of Records by the Federation of Window Cleaners.

Looking ahead to the attempt, Federation of Window Cleaners chair Andrew Lee said: “Terry has done amazingly well to hang onto his record for this long but there’s always a chance of an upset. “Lots of our members have already told us they are planning to take a crack at his record. “Having said that, when you see Terry on video or cleaning live he moves so quickly it’s hard to imagine someone will ever manage a sub-nine second time even if they try and copy his technique.”

Neil previously made headlines when he used a telescopic cleaning rod to help save a man from drowning in the lake at Roundhay Park in 2012. See another challenger here. Previous challengers here. Question time with Terry "Turbo" Burrows" here.

Graham Bower ready for battle.

Buttershaw window cleaner competes to be the UK's fastest at The Cleaning Show in Manchester: A Bradford window cleaner is hoping to bring home a world record for being the fastest in his trade. Graham Bower, 35, is hoping to snatch the crown from reigning champ Terry "Turbo" Burrows when they meet shammy to shammy at The Cleaning Show in Manchester tomorrow.

Mr Burrows, from Suffolk, has held the squeaky clean world record for 20 years but dad-of-five Mr Bower is ready to take him on. So far, Mr Bower’s fastest time has been three windows in 10.3 seconds, while Mr Burrow’s best-ever performance was three high windows in just 9.14 seconds, using a rapid 16-move sequence powered through core strength, flexibility, fast hands and reflexes.

Mr Bower, who lives in Buttershaw Drive, Buttershaw, and cleaned his first windows when he was 12, said he heard the current world record holder had thrown down the gauntlet and so decided to have a go. “It’s not as easy as people think. I’ve been studying his technique. I’m not sure I’ll beat him but I’m going to have a good go and put Bradford on the map.

“Terry is a legend in the world of window cleaning and his record has stood for over 20 years. " I actually saw him in action some years ago, and it was an incredible display of skill and speed. Even if I can’t come close, the world record attempt is always a lot fun and is a great way to demonstrate the skills and professionalism of Britain’s window cleaners," the 35-year-old said.

Graham Bower shows off his skills.

Mr Bower, who has been practising on his sister’s conservatory windows, followed his grandfather and father’s footsteps into the window cleaning business and started his own firm two years ago called Bright and Clean. His number one supporters are wife Roseanne and their five children aged from six to 16. “They are quick themselves to be my number one supporters, but there’s no interest whatsoever from any of the kids to give me a hand cleaning windows!

Mr Bower said: “I just love being outdoors. " I couldn’t stand having a job where I was stuck indoors all the time. I’m out and about in all weathers – nothing puts me off.”

The world record window cleaning challenge is being organised and adjudicated on behalf of the Guinness Book of Records by the Federation of Window Cleaners (FWC), the national trade association for the window cleaning industry.

Andrew Lee, chairman of the FWC, said: “Lots of our members have already told us they are planning to take a crack at his [Mr Burrow’s] record, and some are in training right now. "So we’ll have to wait and see if anyone can match him when the competition comes to Manchester.”

Gardiners Waterfed Pole Saves Life

WATER RESCUE: Window cleaners Neil Caden and Ferdinand Henriques saved a man who was drowning in the lake at Roundhay Park with their Gardiner Water fed Pole. Click to enlarge.

Window cleaners use tools of trade to save man drowning in Leeds lake: A pair of heroic window cleaners used the tools of their trade to save a man drowning in a Leeds lake. Neil Caden, 46, and Ferdinand Henriques, 41, known as Junior, were cleaning the windows at Lakeside Cafe at Roundhay Park, early on Tuesday morning. (July 3) Neil, from Garforth, spotted two men on the waters edge at around 9am. One of the men jumped into the lake and swam to the other side before his companion followed and quickly got into difficulties.

Neil told the YEP: “He wasn’t a strong swimmer and I could tell he wasn’t going to make it. After a while he started slipping under the water and I could tell he was really struggling.” Both window cleaners jumped over a fence and rushed to the edge of the lake. They used a 35ft telescopic cleaning rod to try and reach the man while his friend remained in the water at the other side. Neil said: “By this time his face was in the water and he wasn’t strong enough to grab the pole so we knew one of us would have to jump in.”

Without even pausing to take off his shoes or empty his pockets, Junior, from Belle Isle, dived into the cold water and grabbed the drowning man.  Neil then held the pole and guided both men to the side of the lake, tending to them while a passer-by contacted the emergency services.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said the 49-year-old man’s injuries were not life threatening. Neil added: “We don’t think we’ve been heroes – at the end of the day, you should do it for anyone and at the time you don’t give it a second thought. I’m just glad he’s OK.” Dedicated Neil and Junior both returned to the cafe first thing yesterday morning to finish cleaning the windows.