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Thread: Fred Dibnah - legend

  1. #1
    Grand Master RustyBin5's Avatar
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    Fred Dibnah - legend

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6W_7uIapoHc

    A most satisfying watch. Britain was built by men like this. Legend. And cojones the size of the Himalayas to do that.

  2. #2
    Craftsman
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    One of my favourite youtube blackholes is his videos, this is a particular favourite:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3R3-YwDZrzg

  3. #3
    Master Skier's Avatar
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    I recall watching the original programmes in the early 80s. The guy was a true legend.

  4. #4
    Master Ticker's Avatar
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    The guy was a salt of the earth type bloke. Brilliant to watch, a true legend for sure!

  5. #5
    Master mondie's Avatar
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    Great to see its not just me that holds quite a bit of admiration for old Fred. I have watched or read nearly everything he did and been fortunate to buy an original drawing of his and a signed poster. Got them framed and they make me smile evertime I walk past them, our kids dont really get it though.

  6. #6
    Grand Master oldoakknives's Avatar
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    Fred was definitely a legend and had that British attitude of ‘just get on with it’ which we miss these days I think.
    The man did a great deal.

    Ian

  7. #7
    Master murkeywaters's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ejtrent View Post
    One of my favourite youtube blackholes is his videos, this is a particular favourite:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3R3-YwDZrzg
    Good old Fred, I brick it getting on and off my dormer but this video is just breathtaking and fearless, what a man..

  8. #8
    I remember watching how he’d collapse chimneys with a fire, spent an hour once at a bbq talking to an old guy who was the first person to have a licence to dynamite out tree stumps. He had a few funny stories about getting the mix just right.

  9. #9
    Master Arcam's Avatar
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    My hands were sweating watching those videos , .

    I met Fred a few times, the last one when I was one of the team leaders at Elland Road Mill (largest running mill engine left in the world) when he was showing a number of people round the engine, very pleasant chap and he loved to talk.

    Sent from my SM-N910F using Tapatalk

  10. #10
    Craftsman
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ticker View Post
    The guy was a salt of the earth type bloke. Brilliant to watch, a true legend for sure!
    I think his last wife who looked after him in his final days has a different view of him.

  11. #11
    Craftsman
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    He was a Legend and I have watch almost everything he ever did on TV along with reading alot of his books.
    Loved his mine he built in his back garden.
    But as a few have said he was old school and a sod with the Women!

  12. #12
    Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by ejtrent View Post
    One of my favourite youtube blackholes is his videos, this is a particular favourite:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3R3-YwDZrzg
    I can see this chimney from my house, it's a beautiful thing!

  13. #13
    Always enjoyable to watch, a man of many many talents

  14. #14
    Master
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    Makes my legs go to jelly watching him climbing the big chimneys!

    Absolute top bloke. They don't make them like him any more, sadly.

  15. #15
    Craftsman
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    A real working class hero. He was the reason I got a Mamod steam engine! Still have it and had the old girl running last week showing the grand kids how it works. I've just raised my beer in a toast to Fred. What a guy.

  16. #16
    Craftsman nick wood's Avatar
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    Could watch fred all day

    No h&s in his day

  17. #17
    Master
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    The last of his kind. The early shows following him as a steeplejack were gems.

    "Did ye like that?"

  18. #18
    He was a very funny and intresting chap.

    When I was younger there was a steam fair at the village near my folks home.

    I rode my DH mountain bike to have a look, Fred was there with his traction engine and was being talked too by a very keen traction engine fan. He looked at me and rolled his eyes, I gave him a nod and he said someone’s nicked your engine off your bike like.

    They say never meet your hero’s, that does not apply to Fred, a one off in my opinion, he did not disappoint.

  19. #19
    Craftsman
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    That’s utterly terrifying. At least even he says with the top swaying it feels like there’s something not quite right!


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  20. #20
    Apprentice
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    Quote Originally Posted by golf View Post
    I can see this chimney from my house, it's a beautiful thing!
    It looks familiar… Darwen?

  21. #21
    Master robcuk's Avatar
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    I grew up going to steam fairs with my dad and often sat/stood and listened to him & Fred talking for hours. Fast forward to the early 90s and I’m working in Cambridge.
    When I overheard a customer saying that there’s some man up a chimney and loads of cameras I decided to take a walk.

    When I turned the corner to see Fred at the top of a chimney waving like mad! After a while he came down and walked straight past the waiting TV crews to shake my hand and ask me how my Dad was!

    A lovely man who was born just out of his time, if he’d be born earlier he would have given
    IKB a run for his money.

  22. #22
    Grand Master PickleB's Avatar
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    See also...link...and the rest of that thread.

  23. #23
    Craftsman
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    There's a nice bronze statute of Fred in Bolton town centre. Lovely fella.

  24. #24
    Master mondie's Avatar
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    There is, I snapped this when I went for a look around his house and yard (through the fence). I never did a tour but wish I had as now its too late as all his old sheds belongings were auctioned off earlier this year.

    IMG_4371a by Simon Gee, on Flickr

  25. #25
    Master KavKav's Avatar
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    A proper bloke and a proper Engineer. When others gave up on a problem, Fred would usually find a solution!

  26. #26
    Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by mondie View Post
    There is, I snapped this when I went for a look around his house and yard (through the fence). I never did a tour but wish I had as now its too late as all his old sheds belongings were auctioned off earlier this year.

    IMG_4371a by Simon Gee, on Flickr
    He built a Nero in his backyard?! Were there no limits to his abilities? (would be interested to see the yard picture).

  27. #27
    Master mondie's Avatar
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    The mans talents were limitless!

  28. #28
    Craftsman
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    Quote Originally Posted by ejtrent View Post
    One of my favourite youtube blackholes is his videos, this is a particular favourite:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3R3-YwDZrzg
    Why does that give me the colly-wobbles just watching it from an armchair? Also, how on earth did they install the ladders in the first place? Amazing!

  29. #29
    Owl1
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    A brave man .

  30. #30
    Quote Originally Posted by ALindsay View Post
    Also, how on earth did they install the ladders in the first place? Amazing!
    Here's Fred to explain it (there's a second part as well online): https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=F04dGK1_wYA

    Like all the best presenters, he had an ability to talk to the camera like he was talking to you personally, communicating simply & directly.

    Absolutely fascinating. But it gives me the shivers just watching him at his business!

  31. #31
    Craftsman
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    Quote Originally Posted by Stringer View Post
    Here's Fred to explain it (there's a second part as well online): https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=F04dGK1_wYA

    Like all the best presenters, he had an ability to talk to the camera like he was talking to you personally, communicating simply & directly.

    Absolutely fascinating. But it gives me the shivers just watching him at his business!
    Thanks - that scared me even more, but I can’t work out how they installed the overhanging ladders.



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  32. #32
    Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Superfuzz View Post
    It looks familiar… Darwen?
    Certainly is.

    India mill.

  33. #33
    Craftsman
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    The Odd-Job Boy of Clitheroe - reminds me of Fred a bit.

    https://youtu.be/VwpuGv85tyQ

  34. #34
    Master geran's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Monkey Queen View Post
    The Odd-Job Boy of Clitheroe - reminds me of Fred a bit.

    https://youtu.be/VwpuGv85tyQ
    Try and watch this without laughing

  35. #35
    Master DeepThought's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by geran View Post
    Try and watch this without laughing
    ah lads...its funny, especially trying to get onto the bike, but fair play, he will be a millionaire soon.

  36. #36
    Craftsman
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    Just sorting through a box of old DVDs from my late-Dad and there was Dibnah. Well worth a rewatch and I've enjoyed it over a couple of weekends. if anyone fancies watching it, drop me a PM and I'll stick it in the post (it's off to the charity shop if not....)

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