FRED RIP

Frederick Dibnah, MBE (28 April 1938 – 6 November 2004) was a steeplejack, Engineer and in later life a television personality, with a keen interest in mechanical engineering, mostly steam. When Fred was born, Gt Britain relied heavily upon coal to fuel its industry. He is recorded as saying he would have loved to have lived at the same time as Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

I could watch him for hours. The craftsmanship is so brilliant and you would think he had bulging biceps and quads the way he climbed those long ladders, he was strong as an ox. Watching him climb a chimney was brilliant, he would stop half way and have a smoke. There are lots of Fred Dibnah YouTube videos for you to watch from steeplejacking to steam engines. He is quoted as saying " I set out as a steeplejack in my youth to preserve chimneys. I've finished by knocking most of them down.“ I swear at one time he said buggers in that quote.

The video was part of his television series, the fifth of seven episodes from 1982 exploring the fascinating world of Fred Dibnah, it shows the early days when Fred could bring a chimney down the old way with timber and fire. Then insurance and HSE came into force which curtailed Freds steeplejacking trade as it was no longer viable. I loved watching these old TV episodes, takes away all the modern nonsense for a while. I bet I know what side Fred would vote regarding the EU and Brexit. Search Fred Dibnah you will find lots of Youtube videos.

Sorry Just had to add this. Fred as a guest speaker at Urmston & District Model Engineering Society, Annual Dinner, February 20th 1993,

One mistake up here and it's half a day out with the undertaker

His best line was "Did you like that?"

The above is just a small sample of the old films of Fred, just Google Fred Dibnah. What got Fred was bladder cancer 6 November 2004 aged 66