Remembering Fred Dibnah, UK Steeplejack & Land Rover owner.

[4bee]

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znMzDw3zosY" target="_blank">
https://youtu.be/znMzDw3zosYYouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znMzDw3zosY)

[V8Ian]

Jerryd put me onto the series, very interesting.

[gromit]

Started watching him in the 70's or 80's when he had a regular TV series in the UK. Main focus was on his steeplejacking & 'dropping' large industrial chimneys the old fashioned way.
He became a 'National Treasure' with programs on the Industrial Revolution, building/restoring traction engines etc.
His workshop was steam driven with line shafting & belts, all pulled out of factories that were closing or modernising. Claimed it took several days to really come up to speed but that all his machines were powered by burning sticks.
When he found he had cancer he took his traction engine round England visiting places where parts of it were made. Turned up at Buck house to receive his MBE in the traction engine.....London traffic in a traction engine !!

I have quite a few of his DVD's but I'm sure most would be on YouTube.



Colin

[3toes]

One of those people who had a fairly high profile then after his death the shows stopped being repeated

[4bee]

On his Chimney knockdown.

I hope he would take his snap with him, it'd be a bastard coming down to catch the Lunch truck & have to go back up again.[bigrolf]


Unlike some on TV, his accent is one that most people can understand.

Aye uuup.

[gromit]

He went through a few Land Rovers over the year, I remember a lightweight early on.
Someone restored one for him towards the end but he reckoned that it was more unreliable after the resto......

He started off with a steam road roller that had badly worn teeth on the gears. He once used it to tow his Land Rover to a steam rally then used the Land Rover to get home. He claimed after driving the road roller the Land Rover was like driving a Rolls Royce.
He put his deafness down to the miles on the road roller.

He was building a replica coal mine in his back garden. Caused some issues with the council until a surveyor (who liked Fred) claimed that the way it was being built actually stabilised the land !

A classic line when he was talking about the restoration of his traction engine "it took 25 years and three marriages........".

YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZuRMmKMBQ0)


https://i.pinimg.com/originals/6d/3d/df/6d3ddf4f041835977da86bfe927ced81.jpg


Colin

[4bee]

That appears to be a Winch Drum in the tub.

Looks like he cornered the market in Ladders.[bigrolf]


I'm sure that is Capt. Mainwaring in the photo. Without Military regalia of course.[biggrin]

[gromit]

That appears to be a Winch Drum in the tub.

Looks like he cornered the market in Ladders.[bigrolf]



You need a lot of ladders for a 200' chimney, 200' in fact........ The winch was used for hoisting ladders up from memory.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/63/e6/c8/63e6c8033a63c278e4fed239a6ff64d6.jpg



Colin

[V8Ian]

You need a lot of ladders for a 200' chimney, 200' in fact........ The winch was used for hoisting ladders up from memory.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/63/e6/c8/63e6c8033a63c278e4fed239a6ff64d6.jpg



Colin
Strewth, how did he not get killed on that job, without a hi-viz shirt?

[4bee]

Strewth, how did he not get killed on that job, without a hi-viz shirt? Exactly! Just as well the Red Arrows weren't flying that day or Fred would have been a goner.




He seemed to be climbing vertically forever but he wasn't very fit though 'cos at obout 180' he stopped for a breather & a few rungs up he climbed over the outside of his platform.. [bigrolf] T' would be a bastard if he dropped his chisel.[biggrin]

[V8Ian]

I wonder if he ever went up the wrong chimerly. Probably not, he doesn't strike me as the sort of fellow who could master Google Maps. [bigwhistle]

[gromit]

I wonder if he ever went up the wrong chimerly. Probably not, he doesn't strike me as the sort of fellow who could master Google Maps. [bigwhistle]

Google maps started a few months after he passed.... probably not too hard to miss a big chimney anyway



Strewth, how did he not get killed on that job, without a hi-viz shirt?

I remember the last chimney he dropped, they made him wear a hard hat, he found he couldn't work with it and switched back to his flat cap.
On one episode years earlier he announced he'd got scabies from his flat cap ! Never cleaned & worn for many years. I bet after it was cleaned it was never the same.

On one episode he did some bartering. Someone turned a large part for him and in return he did some work on their chimney. The Tax Department jumped on him because bartering isn't allowed as the Tax Department don't get their 'cut'.

Oxford Models make a Fred Dibnah Lightweight.

http://cdn.powered-by-nitrosell.com/product_images/19/4592/thumb-43LRL006.jpg

After he passed a lot of his ladders etc were stolen. I think his wife tried to run tours round the property then it was sold to someone who again tried to run tours. Seems it's a heritage centre now Fred Dibnah Heritage Centre - Bolton - Visit Manchester (https://www.visitmanchester.com/things-to-see-and-do/fred-dibnah-heritage-centre-p159221)


I think I'll dig out the DVD's and watch a few episodes again......


Colin