Fred Dibnah, a true legend

[haptism]

Just been looking at some Fred Dibnah video's on youtube; given me a well needed boost for the winter. What a legend, built a replica coal mine in his back yard. Heres a man who's happy in hes work ! RIP Fred !

 

[Pete999]

Just been looking at some Fred Dibnah video's on youtube; given me a well needed boost for the winter. What a legend, built a replica coal mine in his back yard. Heres a man who's happy in hes work ! RIP Fred !

Yep RIP

 

[KEV 1 N]

I’m a fan of Fred Dibnah, but mainly enjoy watching his steeple jack jobs and chimney felling.....yes health and safety would not approve of his methods!

 

[telectrix]

went to see his back garden set up some time ago. machines driven by steam engine via overhead shafts and belts.

 

[westward10]

No fear he is making me feel ill, legend.

 

[Midwest]

They had to put his House/ Museum up for sale last October, less they could raise funds. Dunno how things panned out?

 

[magnoliafan89]

Watched his videos in college of how he would scale the coal chimneys and set up at the top. Remarkable....and nuts!!!

 

[telectrix]

a favorite saying of his was " you only fall off once".

 

[Midwest]

He was a bit of an old dog, three wives and all that. Liked the episode of demolition of a chimney with fire props, and air horn for H&S.

Blaster Bates before him, characters gone from our lifestyles these days.

 

[PEG]

Me mum had a features page,with the Bolton Evening News,and got to meet him several times,and i met him at various steam meets,as i have pals with rollers and ploughing engines.....

Never meet your heroes....mad as a hatter

 

[ipf]

I remember drinking with him in a well known pub in Bolton........steam roller parked outside.

Grand lad. Called a spade a spade.......or whatever else he felt like calling it.

 

[PEG]

...Still mad as a hatter...

Proper throw-back,to Victorian era methods of working,followed him avidly,as a kid...he did some beautiful drawings.

What tickles me the most,is all the projects he did,which had the local authorities in uproar...notices to quit,permission refusals and the like...
How quickly someone in the borough,saw the value of him,as a town ambassador ,and hey presto! All those projects now have preservation orders,and cannot be removed

Bet i don't have the same luck,with my back garden depleted uranium store...

 

[ipf]

...Still mad as a hatter...

Proper throw-back,to Victorian era methods of working,followed him avidly,as a kid...he did some beautiful drawings.

What tickles me the most,is all the projects he did,which had the local authorities in uproar...notices to quit,permission refusals and the like...
How quickly someone in the borough,saw the value of him,as a town ambassador ,and hey presto! All those projects now have preservation orders,and cannot be removed

Bet i don't have the same luck,with my back garden depleted uranium store...

...and hence his statue in town centre Oxford Street.

 

[Squid]

Old school, not many left. Wonder what his thoughts would have been on this generations lot of snowflakes getting ridding of old statues as they where imperialist and the promotion of safe places for anyone who may have be offended about something especially in a book.

Whats Bolton'ish for they can shove that up their arses?

 

[sparkdog]

Yes, Fred was great.

 

[telectrix]

one time he was driving the steam roller, pi$$ed as a fart. police copped him and he got away with it by letting the sergeant have a drive of the roller. class.

 

[SparkyChick]

I ended up watching a bunch of Fred Dibnah videos over Christmas as well. Class act, would have loved the chance to have a pint with him.

As for Blaster Bates... what a star. If anyone has (or knows where to procure) the Gelly Babe album on MP3 or iTunes, I'd love to know. My Grandad used to play that record, so funny.

 

[7029 dave]

He was a fantastic engineer/ steeple jack .

 

[Midwest]

I ended up watching a bunch of Fred Dibnah videos over Christmas as well. Class act, would have loved the chance to have a pint with him.

As for Blaster Bates... what a star. If anyone has (or knows where to procure) the Gelly Babe album on MP3 or iTunes, I'd love to know. My Grandad used to play that record, so funny.

Second for Blaster Bates. As kids, my Dad bought his LP's of his after dinner speeches. We used to listen to them (when we got a bit older!) in the evenings, when tv shut down after about 6pm. DVD's of the day.

Greats like 'Shower of ---- over Shropshire, Knicker Brook & The Hunt'. He was another legend, bomber pilot WW2 and bomb disposal. Sadly passed away 2006.

For those who don't know of him, a short clip;

 

[ipf]

Whats Bolton'ish for they can shove that up their arses?

Tha' cun ram tharrup thy jacksie.......

 

[PEG]

Second for Blaster Bates. As kids, my Dad bought his LP's of his after dinner speeches. We used to listen to them (when we got a bit older!) in the evenings, when tv shut down after about 6pm. DVD's of the day.

Greats like 'Shower of **** over Shropshire, Knicker Brook & The Hunt'. He was another legend, bomber pilot WW2 and bomb disposal. Sadly passed away 2006.

For those who don't know of him, a short clip;

Another childhood favourite

Now,at the risk of sounding like a real name-dropper....me dad met him on many occasions,as he was a photographer with the Manchester Evening News,and also,a big fan.

Me dad is ex-RAF and always had plenty to chat about...he used to get given his latest C30 tape (yeah,google that,youngsters...) which,i would listen to,under me bedclothes,as a kid,with the volume down.

His work was not limited to blowing stuff up he would get the call,if any police force,had what they thought may be explosive,found during their tasks,and he would sort it.

He was also at one time,a special constable,in Market Drayton,and i still laugh about him recalling the occasion,he was called to investigate a possible stick of explosive,in a delivery of coal (not uncommon) and as he picked it up,he noticed the property had a very large dog

We really have,moved a long way,from when a man could load high-explosive,in the back of an old soft-top,go blast out a tree stump,and stop at the local pub to get so drunk,you have to be dropped off home

You now risk 5 years,for having a jotted down recipe for explosive,hidden in yer bookcase