Friday Funny As Window Cleaner Photo Bombs Ronnie Wood

Taking 40 winks: Ronnie of the Rolling Stones was caught stealing a moment's sleep as he kept close by his daughters in the hospital on Friday. The cheeky photo bomb of a window cleaner giving the thumbs up outside the hospital window. Click to enlarge.

New mother Sally Wood, 38, looked the picture of happiness alongside rocker "Rolling Stones" husband Ronnie, 69, as she's seen for first time since giving birth to twins. She recently welcomed healthy twin girls Gracie Jane and Alice Rose into the world. Ronnie, who hasn't missed a moment by his wife's side, led the way into the back of a black vehicle no doubt excited to get the new additions to his family home.

Ronnie looked typically cool in a quilted black leather jacket worn over a buttoned down white shirt and a pair of black aviators. The rocker still had a spring in his step on Saturday as he emerged from his London home for another visit to the hospital after sharing an adorable picture as he slept at their bedside. The 69-year-old new dad couldn't hide his infectious smile on no doubt one of his last solo outings for some time. 

Despite the dull day, fancy free Ronnie dressed for sunnier skies in mirrored purple shades and a bright shirt, appearing like he was on top of the world. The previous day, he posted an adorable picture by his wife's bedside in the hospital where he stole a moment's sleep. Though capturing the sweet moment as he napped with his children, he also captured a window cleaner outside sticking his thumbs up for the camera. Ronnie wrote: 'While I was sleeping with the twins,' and accompanied it with love hearts as he eagerly awaited their return to his home with wife Sally.

Working On The Ledge

Working on the ledge - from the "death wish" series.

Ledge worker: A man was spotted cleaning windows from the narrow window ledges, in central London, UK, recently.  We have few details, but he is clearly working at a height well in excess of eight metres. With seemingly little to stop him falling backwards.

All our correspondent said was: “Saw this whilst working next to a Mace site central London” – short and to the point. Perhaps someone else recognises the spot?  No doubt about it this is one of the worst we have seen in some time and clearly one for our Death Wish series.

While the close up looked bad, when you see the true perspective it is totally crazy.

The Great Window Cleaning Heist

The pair disguised themselves as window cleaners when they went on heists.

Jail for burglars who posed as window cleaners to raid London offices: A pair of bogus window cleaners who ransacked central London businesses stealing thousands of pounds worth of goods have been sent to prison. Robert Smythe, 54, of Dufferin Street EC1 and Tony Dudley, 40, of Horatio Street were jailed for conspiracy to commit burglary at Southwark Crown Court after pleading guilty at a previous hearing. Both men were sentenced to three years and four months imprisonment.

The duo targeted office buildings in and around London in the early hours of the morning, donning hi-visibility work-wear, and driving a van full of window cleaning equipment as a front for their illegal activities. The burglars forced their way into the buildings by using crowbars and other tools, and also used their ladders to climb up to windows above ground level to gain entry. Once inside, they searched the offices stealing numerous items including computers and IT equipment.

The burglary spree cost businesses in excess of £100,000 in stolen property and damage, with the reported value of the stolen goods at £70,786.46 and the bill for damage caused totalling £34,260.88.

The pair were caught following a burglary committed on October 1 in Mercer Street, Covent Garden.

Two uniformed officers, who had been tasked to arrest the men, stopped their van late on the evening of October 15 after the pair had just left Smythe's home. In the van they found hi-visibility jackets with the words "Fire Warden" on them and hi-visibility gloves, crow bars, angle grinders and bolt croppers. 

Jailed for window-cleaner burglaries... Tony Dudley (left) and Robert Smythe.

Smythe told police the equipment was for the window cleaning jobs the pair were carrying out, and to back this up, they had a "token" bucket of dirty water and squeegee in the back of the van. The men were arrested, and detectives were then able to link the pair to similar audacious burglaries carried out over the past year in surrounding London boroughs. Using DNA taken from Smythe, CCTV images of the burglaries being committed and vehicles used and number plate recognition techniques, detectives were able to link the pair to 23 separate burglary offences between June and October.

They were charged with Conspiracy to Burgle on October 17 and have been remanded in custody ever since. DC Tony Holley, the officer in the case for Westminster CID, said: "This was a prolific series of burglaries by Smythe and Dudley across London. "Smythe and Dudley were very presise in their criminal activities, operating in a methodical manner by intentionally appearing as legitimate overnight window cleaners then breaking in and calmly and thoroughly ransacking the offices. "Many people think that crimes against businesses are victimless but some of these businesses are small with very tight margins and this sort of crime can be the difference between them succeeding and going under."

Living Wage - A Fair Days Pay

Mayor Steve Bullock and Councillors at Cam Specialist Support Services with Matt Johnson (far left) the Managing Director and apprentices.

Incentive for living wage: Lewisham council has honoured a Living Wage employer as it unveiled proposals to slash business rates up to £5,000 to encourage other firms to follow their example. Sir Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham, presented Matt Johnson and Sean Canty, joint owners of CAM Specialist Support, with a certificate in recognition of the company’s commitment to paying their employees a fair wage.

The cleaning company at Malham Industrial Estate in Forest Hill, received its Living Wage accreditation in August. It was founded by Matt Johnson, who started out as a window cleaner, 25-years ago and now has a £3million turnover. Mr Johnson said: “The cleaning industry offers tremendous opportunities to the right people. I myself started off as a window cleaner and now run my own diverse company.

However, we need to make the industry more attractive to quality applicants so that our profession gains the credibility it deserves. The first stage on that journey is to ensure we pay a wage that people can actually live on.”

Lewisham’s Mayor and Cabinet meeting today, is due to consider proposals to give companies a business rate discount if they get accredited with the Living Wage Foundation. The wage level, which is to be £9.40 an hour in London from next April, is the amount calculated independently by the Living Wage Foundation. This is more than £2 higher than the national living wage announced by George Osborne in the budget. 

The council says Lewisham faces higher than average levels of in-work poverty with one in four jobs in the borough paying below the living wage. Sir Steve said: “We were proud to be the first Living Wage council in the country. But we want to do more to encourage and support our partners and local businesses to pay the Living Wage too. A fair day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay.”

Commenting on the award, Johnson said: “We pay the Living Wage, because we believe it is the right thing to do morally. I want everyone who works here to be able to feed and clothe their families and not be worrying about in-work poverty. As well as the moral benefits, we’ve found there are commercial returns as staff are more loyal and flexible when they are being treated with respect, reducing recruitment time and costs. 

Paying the Living Wage also means people are less likely to take shortcuts while working and we have an excellent safety record as a result. “We hope more businesses will realise the benefits of paying the Living Wage to their staff and contractors so that everyone receives a fairer deal.”

Man Has Face 'Ripped Off' By A Sofa

A witness said: "There were people cleaning the windows. A security guard at the hotel said they had put the sofa into the cradle, which was big enough for three men and it fell out."

Man's face 'ripped off' by sofa falling from luxury London hotel penthouse: A man reportedly had his 'face ripped off' in a horrifying incident that saw a sofa fall from a luxury London hotel penthouse. The man was walking past the W Hotel in Leicester Square when the sofa fell from scaffolding on one of the £9,533-a-month penthouses on the ninth floor. It is now believed the sofa had been put on a window cleaning cradle before it fell.

According to the Mirror, a witness said: "There were people cleaning the windows. A security guard at the hotel said they had put the sofa into the cradle, which was big enough for three men and it fell out." The witness added: "[The man] looked like his face had been ripped off." The victim was taken to hospital with a serious head injury, and is believed to be in a critical but stable condition.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Police were called at 8.54am on Friday 30 October to reports of a pedestrian injured in Wardour Street W1. "At this early stage it is believed he was injured by a piece of furniture which fell from scaffolding. "The man aged in his 20s taken to an east London hospital by London's Air Ambulance. His condition is critical but stable."

A spokeswoman for Starwood Hotels, the parent group of W Hotels, said: "We are aware of an incident at the Swiss Centre which also houses W London Leicester Square. "The exact circumstances of this accident are still being investigated. "Our thoughts and prayers go to the gentleman concerned, who is being treated in hospital for his injuries." The spokesman said: "The man, aged in his twenties, was taken to an east London hospital by London's Air Ambulance "His condition is critical but stable. "The Health and Safety Executive has been informed."

The newspaper quoted one witness as saying: "[The man] looked like his face had been ripped off. "It was raining and where the drops were hitting his face it was making him scream in agony."

Window Cleaner Honoured

Window cleaner Gareth Salmon survived explosions and smoke to save an elderly woman from her burning flat. David Domoney, from ITVs Love your Garden, Gareth Salmon and Chief Fire & Rescue Advisor CFO Peter Holland.

Ruislip father honoured for saving woman from flat fire: A Ruislip window cleaner has been honoured after saving an elderly woman's life rescuing her from a burning flat. Gareth Salmon, 39, of Marlborough Avenue, was cleaning a block of flats when he noticed smoke coming from one of the windows. He immediately stopped what he was doing and rang all the bells of the flats to find out if someone was in there, and a neighbour told him an elderly woman was stuck inside.

The father-of-two said, "I kicked the front door down and got through all the smoke. I had to crawl along the floor for so far, but I wasn’t able to breathe and I couldn’t reach her." Finally gaining access after flames forced him to retreat, an explosion blew him out of the door. Not giving up, he re-entered the property and saved the woman. “The gas had exploded, so that threw me back out the door," he said.

“I went back in but it was still full of smoke and luckily I stumbled over her as she was lying in the hallway, and I think because she was lying down she was still ok. “She was burnt but I managed to pick her up and get myself out through the kitchen and on to the balcony and get her out. About a minute after that it exploded so there was a big fireball out the window, and it just completely wiped out the flat - I was lucky really!”

Brave Mr Salmon didn't think twice about saving the woman and didn't have “time to take in what was happening”. He said: “I was just concentrating. Because I could hear her, I was just determined to get her out. “I was thinking: 'I’ve got to get her before the fire gets any worse.' There’s no way I couldn’t go in.”

The dramatic moments all happened on New Years Eve of 2013-2014, which ended with the woman being airlifted to hospital and London Fire Brigade tackling the blaze. Luckily Mr Salmon wasn't hurt at all, and said: “I was just lucky… when I went in, I just put a cloth around my mouth and I didn’t get any smoke inhalation.”

Spirit of Fire Awards: Mr Salmon was awarded with the title of Adult Hero at the star-studded Spirit of Fire Awards 2015, which took place at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel on October 2, hosted by The Fire Fighters Charity, and presented by BBC newsreader Nicholas Owen.

The Spirit of Fire Awards are supported by Infographics UK Ltd, the developer of FireWatch and FloSuite software for the Fire & Rescue Service, and honour members of the fire community and members of the public by recognising acts of astonishing courage and bravery, as well as dedication to The Fire Fighters Charity.

A stellar line-up of award presenters included comedian Russell Howard; actors Niamh McGrady, Bhasker Patel and John Partridge; sports presenter Diana Binks; TV gardener David Domoney; and Great British Bake Off contestant Mat Riley.

The awards were followed by a Downing Street reception for nominees, hosted by Greg Clark MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. He said: “I’ve been inspired by the accounts of self-sacrifice and dedication that the winners and nominees of this year’s Spirit of Fire awards have shown, both at individual incidents and in their support for the Fire Fighters Charity.

“This charity provides world-class support and treatment for serving and retired firefighters, as well as their families, and it is in recognition of this that we continue to support its work. I would like to congratulate all those involved in the awards, and to thank them for all their hard work and commitment.”

Receiving the accolade was “mixed emotions” for humble Mr Salmon. He said: “You go there and the room is full of firefighters who do it full-time for a living, and you think really, they should be getting all the honour. “But it’s still really nice to be recognised for what you’ve done.”

This Cat’s Best Friend Is the Window Washer

This hilarious video was filmed by Rina Takei, the owner of the cat believed to be called Guinness, on the monthly visit from the window cleaner. In the clip the feline is filmed running along the lower part of the window while inside a high-rise building in Pimlico, London and following the window cleaner with his eyes.

This Cat’s Best Friend Is the Window Washer: YouTube user Rina Takei’s channel is filled with videos of house cat Guinness playing with the man dangling outside the fourth story window. The cat’s interest is seemingly piqued the moment the big black safety rope appears out the window with the furball trying to bat at it through the glass.

When the man that the video description calls “Window Cleaning Uncle” appears, the fun really gets started. While the window is cleaned, the cat goes to town trying to either play with the squeegee or decimate the invader, depending on what you think about cats and their motives. The cleaner, protected from the cat’s assault by a sheet of glass, is more than happy to play along. If their friendship (or ongoing war) gets any cuter they might have to take it to the next level—which is the next floor, of course.

Cat and window cleaner become BFFs after months of meeting at same window:  Guinness the cat may be a city slicker but he's got a soft spot for one human that he's made friends with since he moved into his new apartment. It all started for Guinness and the window cleaner when Guinness was just a kitten and started to interact with the abseiling window cleaner who comes to the building every week, but as the weeks and months went by, the two started developing a fun relationship and now, according to Guinness' owner Rina Takei, he waits every week for his 'Uncle' to appear at the window and say hello.

London Window Cleaner Loses Balance & His Life

Flowers and an Arsenal scarf left around the basement area of the Noel Road property in London. David Bluring a local window cleaner fell after losing his balance.

A “kind and lovely” window cleaner who had worked in Islington since he was just 16 tragically died after falling from the roof of a five-storey house in Angel. Father of two David Bluring, 58, who grew up in the borough but lived in Southgate, was cleaning the top-floor windows of the property in Noel Road at around 3pm last Thursday when he lost his balance and fell around 50 feet.

Mr Bluring was one of five children who spent their childhood on the Peabody estate, off Essex Road. It is unclear what caused the fall, but a handle appeared to be missing from a top-floor window. Passers-by suggested Mr Bluring may have lost his balance after the handle he was holding onto came away. 

The window cleaner, who fell into the basement area in front of the property, was not using a ladder at the time and appears not to have taken any other safety precautions. Police say they are not treating the incident as suspicious at this stage.

The Noel Road house where Mr Bluring fell.

Geoffrey Arden, 85, who owns the house, said he had opened the door to Mr Bluring earlier that day. “He seemed perfectly normal,” he said. “I had only met him once or twice. He had been our window cleaner for about a year after he was recommended to us by neighbours. He was very conscientious. “How he lost his balance I don’t know. It’s a great tragedy.”

The pensioner said he had never seen Mr Bluring use a ladder, and that he had climbed on to the roof out of the top-floor window. Dave Branch, a builder who was working in a house opposite and was said to have tried to come to Mr Bluring’s aid after witnessing the fall, left a bunch of flowers and a card at the scene. It said: “So sorry I couldn’t help you more. My thoughts are with you and your family. Rest in peace.”

Wilton Square resident Isobel Waller, one of Mr Bluring’s customers of 17 years, said she and her husband Anthony had seen him just days before his death. “He was laughing and joking, full of vitality and acute observations of life,” she said.

A message left at the scene in Angel.

“Dave Burling was one of the first people my husband and I met when we moved to Wilton Square in 1998. “He was always ready for a chat and we would discuss the issues of the day over a cup of coffee when he came to do our windows. He kept a friendly eye on people living on their own or who needed a bit of help.” “We will miss him enormously,” she added.

Another customer, Arlington Square resident Kathleen Bondar, described Mr Bluring as a “nice, cheerful and friendly man”. “He was such a nice, cheerful and friendly man whom I trusted so easily around my home,” she added. “He worked hard and carefully and always had a kind, lovely manner. This is a tragedy for all who knew him.”

Police and paramedics from the London Ambulance Service and London Air Ambulance attended the incident but were unable to save the 58-year-old. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Enquiries into the circumstances of the death are being carried out by officers from Islington Council and the Health and Safety Executive. Mr Bluring is survived by son Damian, 31, daughter Sam, 30 and his wife Sharon.

When Old Timers Hang Up Their Squeegees

Andre Hiett launched his business, Andre's Window Cleaning, in the early 1990s and has been up and down ladders ever since. The 64-year-old estimates that he has cleaned more than 80,000 windows across Crawley in his time.

Window cleaner who has cleaned 80,000 Crawley windows hanging up his squeegee: A Southgate window cleaner is preparing to wring out his squeegee for the last time after keeping the town's windows sparkling for more than 25 years. Andre Hiett launched his business, Andre's Window Cleaning, in the early 1990s and has been up and down ladders ever since.

The 64-year-old estimates that he has cleaned more than 80,000 windows across Crawley in his time.

Mr Hiett, from Fletcher Close, credits the secret of his business's success to word of mouth. He said: "When I started I would get new clients through people telling their friends and family about me. "I have liked cleaning windows as it meant I could be my own boss. "Although sometimes when I have been out in bad weather I would think, 'why am I doing this?'"

The grandfather of two got into window cleaning after being made redundant from the former Duracell factory on Gatwick Road, in Manor Royal, where he worked as a tool maker. Mr Hiett was among 350 people who lost their jobs when operations at the factory were moved to Europe. He said: "There were 39 of us trying to go for a handful of other tool-making jobs so I decided to go in a different direction and started window cleaning full time."

Although he has vowed to stay tight-lipped about any embarrassing instances of cleaning a window and people inside not realising he was there, he did talk about some of the more unusual jobs he has faced. He said: "I had one customer who had secondary glazing on their windows (a second piece of glass fitted inside a single glazed window for soundproofing and insulation). "Inside the glass was a layer of mould so thick you couldn't see out of it but they would still get me to come and clean the outside."

After cleaning his last pane Mr Hiett is looking forward to spending more time with his wife of 41 years Patricia, along with his two children, two grandchildren and 92-year-old mother. He has a new window cleaner lined up to take over the business when he retires next month. Not one to sit around Mr Hiett has said he doesn't plan to stop working completely once retired. He said: "I am going to enjoy having the next few months off and then maybe get a one or two-day warehouse-type job in the new year to keep busy."

London Firefighters Rescue Window Cleaners

Two window cleaners were trapped outside the 10th floor of a 35-storey London City skyscraper.

Firefighters save window cleaners after being trapped up City skyscraper for hours: Two window cleaners were trapped outside the 10th floor of a 35-storey City skyscraper for hours yesterday afternoon, before being rescued by London Fire Brigade. The men had been cleaning windows at the Undershaft, or St Helen's -  formerly known as the Aviva Tower of the Commercial Union building - next to Leadenhall Market.

Three crews worked alongside building management to lower the cradle to the first floor, with the men then being brought down to ground level using an aerial ladder platform. The men were stuck outside the building for "a number of hours prior to the brigade being called,", LFB said, but were not injured. The brigade was called at 4.17pm and the incident was over at 6.16pm. A fire engine from Dowgate fire station, an aerial ladder platform from Greenwich fire station and a fire rescue unit from Islington fire station attended the incident.

Window cleaners left dangling 10 floors up Aviva Tower for hours after 'pulley malfunction' - City workers downed tools to watch a nail-biting rescue operation after two window cleaners were left dangling 10 storeys up the Aviva Tower for hours. The drama unfolded yesterday afternoon in the 35-storey building, official name St Helen's, in St Mary Axe opposite the Gherkin.

The two men, who are familiar faces in the area, got into trouble at about lunchtime when their cradle is believed to have developed a fault. One witness, who works at Costa Coffee in the ground floor of the building, said the men were only able to operate one side of the pulley system – meaning they could change the angle of their box but not its height. “It’s automatic but it got stuck,” she said. “One side was going down but the other was stuck so they could have slipped out of one side.

“We had to close the shop at 5pm but they’d been up there for seven hours. “They had a phone so they were speaking with other people on the ground. They were very high.” The window cleaners, one of whom was thought to be about 18 while the other is an older man, have been signed off work until Monday while they recover, it is believed. “We see them every day,” said the barista. “They come here for a coffee. I don’t know their names but I know what they drink. “Everybody from the building was shocked – everybody just stopped working.”

Three fire crews helped staff in the building lower the faulty cradle down to the first floor where they were rescued by an aerial ladder platform. Neither of them was hurt. The rescue, which began at about 4.15pm after the men had been stuck for a number of hours, lasted until 6.15pm.

Mothers Plea For Window Cleaner

Detectives say the window cleaner and keen footballer, who had no criminal links, was the victim of  mistaken identity. 

Mother’s plea for answers five years after her son was shot dead at home: The family of a man gunned down  at his home in a case of mistaken identity today made a fresh appeal to find his killer. 

On the fifth anniversary of his death, the mother and girlfriend of Ricardo Cunha are calling for answers and asking for help in their fight for justice.

The 23-year-old was shot in the head as he looked out of the window of his flat in West Norwood after somebody knocked on the door at around 11.20pm on September 11, 2010. Detectives say the window cleaner and keen footballer, who had no  criminal links, was the victim of  mistaken identity. 

His mother, Maria Cunha, said: “Five years have passed since we lost our boy and we still don’t have answers about what happened and why his life was taken away so cruelly. Nothing will bring our Ricardo back to us but I want whoever did this to my son to pay for what they did.”

She added: “Ricardo had his life ahead of him, so many plans and it was all stolen from him. I don’t know how on earth someone could do this to Ricardo. Five years have passed but there is not a day that goes by that we don’t cry for not having our Rick here with us. So I strongly appeal to anyone out there that has information to come forward and help.”

In 2011 Metropolitan Police issued an image of a 1924 Webley Mark Six Revolver which may have been the murder weapon. They believe it could have been kept as a keepsake, with the possibility that it may have been stolen in an unreported burglary before finding its way into the hands of the killer. 

Detectives know that the same gun was fired during an incident on the Clapham Park Estate in Brixton three days after Mr Cunha’s murder. Mr Cunha’s girlfriend, Sapna Daby, said: “I do not think people understand the pain me and his family have been through for the past five years. “We are still seeking answers and for someone to come forward with information.”

Detective Inspector Alison Hepworth, from the Homicide and Major Crime Command at Scotland Yard, said: “Ricardo was a young man who was mercilessly gunned down and those responsible for his death have  continued to live their life whilst Ricardo was robbed of the chance of living his. 

“We believe that someone knows who shot an innocent man in his own home. With the passage of time allegiances can change and we are directly  appealing to those who for whatever reason did not come forward at the time to use this opportunity to come and speak to us now.”

Reflected Sunlight Through Window Causes House Fire

Blaze: Sunlight is said to have reflected from the mirror onto curtains which caught alight before spreading to other furniture. Click to enlarge.

Make-up mirror left near window sparks bedroom blaze in south London: A bedroom was partially destroyed in a fire sparked when sunlight hit a mirror and was refracted onto some curtains, firefighters have said. The make-up mirror was left on a dressing table adjacent to the window at a home in Arthur Road, Wimbledon.

Rays from the sun were reflected onto the bedroom curtains which caught alight before spreading to furniture and other items close to the window yesterday evening. London Fire Brigade (LFB) said nobody was injured and the home occupier was alerted to the fire by a smoke alarm. Firefighters were called at 6.32pm and the blaze was brought under control by 7.09pm.

The LFB is urging people to keep mirrors and crystal or glass objects away from sunny areas in their homes. They also advised people to fit at least one smoke alarm per floor and ensure they are tested each week.

Chris Williams, from LFBs fire investigation team, said: “These sort of fires are not as rare as you would think and shows these types of fires are not an urban myth. "Crystals, glass ornaments and items such as dressing table mirrors should be kept out of direct sunlight. "Thankfully the resident was alerted to the fire by their smoke alarm. It’s essential that everyone has at least one smoke alarm on every level of their home."

Also see here.

Dilapidated Government Buildings & Their Windows

How bad is the California state building where you work? Mechanical failure has kept one building’s windows unwashed for 10 years. Some office structures lack fire sprinklers, contain hazardous materials, suffer from leak.

Fun fact: The windows on the Resources Building in downtown Sacramento haven’t been cleaned in more than a decade. “The window cleaning platform is not functional,” the California Department of General Services stated in a new report on the 51-year-old building. “The windows have not been cleaned in over ten years, and without an operable platform, the exterior tile joints cannot be maintained.”

Other problems inside and outside the building include asbestos in the walls, ceiling and floor tiles, exterior joints around windows that allow water to seep in, a “spongy” roof the verge of leaking and fire-safety systems that aren’t up to code. Those troubles and others gave the 17-story structure at 1416 Ninth St. the ignominious distinction as the most-dilapidated office building that the state owns or leases among the 29 assessed by HOK, a well-known architectural firm.

HOK figures that fixing everything, from replacing restroom exhaust fans to seismically retrofitting the Resources Building’s exterior, would cost $148.8 million. Lawmakers commissioned the first-ever survey of state properties last year. The Brown administration has said the results will guide policy for repairing or replacing government buildings. Want to check on the state building where you work? General Services has posted the results all the state building assessments by HOK. You’ll find them here.

Part of the problem is that many of the building’s 3,000 windows in the Houses of Parliament of the building on the banks of the River Thames in central London will not close properly

Deteriorating Houses of Parliament could catch fire again, warn Parliament officials: The Palace of Westminster is in such a state of disrepair that it could burn down for a second time, senior officials in charge of a major overhaul have warned. MPs are getting stuck in lifts and missing votes because of the scale refurbishment required at the Houses of Parliament, they said.

Part of the problem is that many of the building’s 3,000 windows of the building on the banks of the River Thames in central London will not close properly, further causing more damage to the fabric of the building designed by the architect Augustus Pugin. Richard Ware, the director for the Restoration and Renewal Programme at the Palace of Westminster, said the £50million a year work programme only kept the building working operationally. More fundamental work was needed to stop the building deteriorating further, referring to the last major fire in the Houses of Parliament in 1834. 

A report on the future of the Palace of Westminster concluded in 2012: “If the Palace were not a listed building of the highest heritage value, its owner would probably be advised to demolish and rebuild.” One of the major problems is that asbestos – a deadly substance which was used in the 1940s and 1950s to fireproof buildings - had been “liberally applied all around the building – not just as insulation but in light switches, toilet systems and as a sound suppressant”, Mr Barlex said.

London Cleaning Show Kicks Off Tomorrow

London Cleaning Show kicks off tomorrow; Register now

The Cleaning Show 2015: The renowned and long-running Cleaning Show (previously held at the NEC in Birmingham), in partnership with the British Cleaning Council, is the UK's major event designed specifically for the Cleaning and Support Services sector. The show is being held every two years, and registration is free of charge for all cleaning and hygiene professionals.

The Cleaning Show is the UK’s major event designed specifically for the Cleaning and Support Services sector. Registration is free of charge and includes free training and seminar sessions. An essential event for anyone responsible for cleaning, maintenance and hygiene from healthcare to hotel kitchens – don’t miss it.  Click here to register now.

Kyran Bracken to speak at the Cleaning Show - Kyran Bracken, Former England Scrum Half will present a motivational Keynote Presentation at the Cleaning Show 2015 – Tuesday 10 March at 10:30 am. Though plagued with injury, Kyran earned 170 Saracens caps and 50 for England, including his major contribution to England’s World Cup win in 2003. Kyran’s presentation will be free of charge to attend, on a first-come-first-served basis, and will inspire managers within the cleaning and hygiene sector to incorporate leadership skills and a strong team ethic in order to deliver results that will leave your opposition in their wake.

7 other top reasons to go;

Entrance is free of charge and visitors will be able to:

• Source the latest products and services on the market with over 100 exhibitors - see the latest exhibitor list here
• View demonstrations and try out equipment first-hand - including the Cleaning Show Innovation Award winners
• Gain knowledge about the key challenges and legislation affecting the industry though free seminars and workshops
• Learn from a series of free training academy sessions focusing on the latest technology and business skills such as Earn while you learn sessions with Innovise, using social media to enhance your business - plus 1-2-1 career's clinic sessions
• Challenge the fastest window cleaners in the world with our Guinness World Record Attempt - click here for further details on how you could win £1,000
• Meet with friends new and old at a series of social gatherings and association meetings
• Find bargains with special show discounts on products  

Could you be the fastest window cleaner in the world? Sponsored by Unger and Principle Window Cleaning, the Window Cleaning Competition will be a lively and fully interactive feature at the Cleaning Show held 10 - 12 March at ExCeL, London. The existing world record holder, Terry ‘Turbo’ Burrows, will take on all-comers trying to break his long-standing world speed record for cleaning three regulation-size windows. Click here to view the details of the current Guinness World record.

The competition – which takes place on Wednesday 11 March at 2pm - will be expertly adjudicated by the Federation of Window Cleaners, and details of the event have been logged with Guinness World Records to ensure the record, if broken, will stand. All participants will have the opportunity to practice for the event during the morning of 10 March. Anyone successfully breaking the world record during the competition will receive a cash prize of £1,000 (See T&C below). The competition is free to enter and open to everyone. Should the world record be broken more than once during the Window Cleaning Competition at the Cleaning Show 2015, the cash prize of £1000 will be paid to the person holding the world record when the competition ends.

Who should attend? Anyone who has responsibility for cleaning, hygiene and facilities management should attend this event. Held only every two years, don't miss the largest UK event for the industry.

Contract cleaning companies

Window cleaners

Facility/office/business managers from a wide-range of industries including:

educational establishments- schools, universities etc

finance/insurance - city offices, banks etc

hospitals and healthcare establishments

industrial, manufacturing and warehouses

leisure and hospitality facilities – hotels, restaurants, cinemas etc

local and central government

public services – ambulance services, police, fire brigades etc

residential and nursing homes

retail and shopping centres

transport providers

Registration to attend is completely free-of-charge - apply for your pass now.Contract cleaning companies

Window cleaners

Facility/office/business managers from a wide-range of industries including:

educational establishments- schools, universities etc

finance/insurance - city offices, banks etc

hospitals and healthcare establishments

industrial, manufacturing and warehouses

leisure and hospitality facilities – hotels, restaurants, cinemas etc

local and central government

public services – ambulance services, police, fire brigades etc

residential and nursing homes

retail and shopping centres

transport providers

Registration to attend is completely free-of-charge - apply for your pass now.

UK Window Cleaner Of The Year 2015 Winners

Jack Mcavoy shown winning employee of the year, but went on to win the federation of window cleaners employee of the year award.

Window Cleaner of the Year 2015 Winners! We are delighted to announce the overall winner from each category - selected on the number of votes they received. Huge congratulations to the following worthy winners of the FWC “Window Cleaner of the Year 2015 competition”. 

COMPANY OF THE YEAR AWARD 2015: Progress Cleaning Services Ltd – Southampton EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR AWARD 2015: Jack Mcavoy – Employee with: Nationwide Window Cleaning Ltd - Yorkshire 

The Winners will be officially announced at the Cleaning Show Excel in London on Wednesday 11th March and their Award & prizes presented by FWC Executive Scott Smith. Once again we thank the Executive member judges for their time and effort. More essentially to our members for participating in this competition with such enthusiasm….well done! 

Runners up in numerical order will be given a 2015 finalist certificate: “Company of the Year 2015” finalists: 

J.V. Price Ltd – Hertfordshire 

D.W.S Services –Essex 

Complete Cleaning Services (SW) Ltd - Exeter

“Employee of the Year 2015” finalists:
James Driver: employee of T.R. Cleaning Ltd
Joe Smyth- employee of Impact Support Solutions Ltd
Philip Wyer employee of Crystal Clear Ltd

1st Place – Jack McAvoy (South Eastern Region), won an iPad Air for employee of the year.

WINDOW CLEANER OF THE YEAR AWARD 2015: Congratulations to Jack Mcavoy, our Employee of the Year, for being shortlisted for the Window Cleaner of the Year Awards 2015.

Federation of Window Cleaners executives had lengthy and intensive discussions to whittle the list down to these four whom demonstrate exemplary achievements.

The Federation of Window Cleaners received over 100 proposed nominees – all with superb quality entries giving the executive team a tough time arriving at this list…… the names set out below are the cream of the professional crop. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Executive member judges for their time and effort and also take our hats off to all the entrants for their enthusiastic entries submitted for the Window Cleaner of the Year Award 2015. Jack Mcavoy, the outright winner will be at the Cleaning Show Excel in London where prizes will be awarded.

Customer Tip - Glass Jars Next To Windows Start Fires

Aftermath: The bedroom was ravaged by the blaze which killed beloved family pet Chili (Picture: London Fire Brigade). The low winter sunlight coming through the window is believed to have been focused by the glass jar and strengthened, sparking a blaze which devastated the family home and completely destroyed the roof of the house. Four fire engines and 21 firefighters attended the blaze.

Sun rays shining on Nutella jar spark fire destroying family home and killing dog: A dog was killed and a family home wrecked after a huge fire was started by sun rays shining through a Nutella jar. Beloved family pet Chili, a nine-year-old Jack Russell, died from smoke inhalation while trapped inside the house in Twickenham, south west London, as the fire raged.

Firefighters believe it was caused by low winter sunlight being refracted through the glass chocolate spread container, which was being used to hold loom bands. Electrical supervisor Declan Murphy, 41, told Get West London: "We're all heartbroken at Chili's death and we've been told it will be up to a year before the house is ready for us to move back into. "I want to ensure other people are aware of the dangers and know to keep glass items away from windows and out of direct sunlight so they don't have to go through anything like this."

Mr Murphy had been out of the house at the time, celebrating the anniversary of his engagement with his wife and two children. The jar had been sitting on the windowsill of his daughter's bedroom. The fire on Sunday, February 15, destroyed the first-floor bedroom and also damaged the roof of the house. Charlie Pugsley, from the London Fire Brigade's fire investigation unit, said: "It sounds far fetched that a jar containing a few rubber bands caused a severe house fire but that’s exactly what happened. "It’s worth spending five minutes checking that your window ledges are clear of any glass or crystal that might lead to potentially life changing blaze."

That incident prompted a warning from the London Fire Brigade, which revealed it had been called to 125 fires caused by the sun's rays over the last five years.

Warning after Nutella jar sparks devastating blaze: The fire came just days before sunlight refracted off a mirror table at the Mayfair home of lingerie tycoon Michelle Mone, setting alight a bean bag, on Thursday (February 19). That incident prompted a warning from the London Fire Brigade, which revealed it had been called to 125 fires caused by the sun's rays over the last five years - including five this winter alone. Charlie Pugsley, from the brigade's fire investigation unit, said: "These sort of fires are not as rare as you would think. I've seen everything from sparkly door knobs to crystal balls starting fires. "Crystal and glass ornaments and items such as mirror tables should be kept out of direct sunlight. We wouldn’t advise that people put fires out themselves but it is good to see that Ms Mone is not injured. "This shows these fires are not an urban myth. "Also make sure that you have a working smoke alarm on every level of your home."

Also see: Clean Windows + Low Winter Sun + Glass Refocus = Fire