A father-and-son chimney sweep team are bringing luck to newly married couples all over the Black Country by appearing at their weddings.

Superstitious couples are turning to Peter March and his son Sam Roy to ensure that not just their wedding but the rest of their lives go ahead as planned. 

Mervin Pearson, aged 39, and his bride Dawn Mannion, 29, were the latest couple to enlist their services on Saturday. 

Dressed in his traditional attire and accompanied with a broom and blackened face, Mr March waited outside Holy Trinity Church in Short Heath, Willenhall, to greet the happy couple, from New Invention, as they left the church. Offering the bridegroom a handshake and the bride a kiss, Mr March then posed for pictures and stamped his luck, as only chimney sweeps can, on the proceedings. Superstition dictates a marriage will be long and successful if the bridal party meets a chimney sweep on the way to church. 

They charge from £150 to appear at a wedding. Speaking after the wedding, Mrs Pearson said: “I have always known that it is an old wives’ tale to have a chimney sweep at your wedding to bring your marriage luck, and so I thought I would get a chimney sweep to attend mine. I thought it added a nice little touch to the day.”

Mr March, 62, has been running his chimney sweep business from his home in Persehouse Street, Walsall, for the 12 years and in that time has attended numerous weddings. His son Sam, 22, also offers the wedding service and was also in attendance at another ceremony on Saturday.