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| 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.
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.
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.”
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| Graham Bower ready for battle. |
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.
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| Graham Bower shows off his skills. |
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.”
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