Ted's saddling up for special birthday bash (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Meet 100-year-old Ted Vine who still runs his own bike repair shop

2:00pm Saturday 21st November 2009 in Richmond News By Suraya Saleh

Meet Ted Vine, a true East Sheen character.

The great-grandfather, who still runs his own bike repair business, this week celebrated his 100th birthday. And if history is anything to go by, he will mark the milestone this weekend by being the life and soul of the party.

Granddaughter Jo Bradbury said: “There’s no doubt he’ll be drinking a whisky and dancing like he did at his 99th.”

Among those celebrating the occasion will be his six grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, most of whom still live around Richmond.

Ted admits it is a “puzzle” to him why he has made it to 100 when so many others around him, including his wife and three children, have not.

He said: “You wonder why, why I am 100? I’ve not done everything everyone else does.”

Despite the best efforts of developers, Ted still lives in the same Upper Richmond Road house he was born in.

He said: “I’ve lived here all my life except for four years when I got married and moved to Richmond. I was born here and I said I'll die here.”

His house, nestled between a large supermarket and a DIY store, projects a kind of rustic, old world charm that suggests little has changed to the facade since Ted’s family took over the lease – for the princely sum of 14 shillings per week – in the early 1900s.

A red tin sign above the door proudly proclaims the proprietor, E. Vine, Junior – Ted’s father – as a chimney sweep and carpet beater whose work is done “with horse and van”.

Ted’s grandfather began the chimney sweeping business in 1850, before passing it on to Ted’s father, Ted, then Ted’s son Colin and now grandson Richard. When Ted retired from chimney sweeping in the 1960s he opened Ted’s Cycles, restoring bicycles bought at police auctions and doing repairs.

He said: “I don’t do the big jobs now, just the little jobs.”

Business is conducted from his home, but customers have to brave his bad temper if they disturb his dinner between noon and 2pm.

A creature of habit, Ted likes to get up before 7am to make his porridge and prepare his dinner, usually classic British dishes like bangers and mash. He is self-sufficient, doing his cleaning, preparing his meals and riding his mobility scooter to Sainsbury's for a weekly shop or taking two buses to Kingston to visit the pound shop.

On a fine day, you’re likely to find him sitting in his doorway, Guinness in hand, chatting to people as they walk down the street.

The view has changed immensely in his time.

He remembers playing cricket on the block now occupied by Waitrose when it was a square surround by 14 council-owned cottages.

Across the road – now built up with shops and flats – there was only one house between his place and Sheen Lane.

But he said: “It’s lovely in the doorway. I watch all the girls go by. Sometimes I’ll sing to myself.”

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