One of my favourite youtube blackholes is his videos, this is a particular favourite:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3R3-YwDZrzg
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.
One of my favourite youtube blackholes is his videos, this is a particular favourite:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3R3-YwDZrzg
I recall watching the original programmes in the early 80s. The guy was a true legend.
The guy was a salt of the earth type bloke. Brilliant to watch, a true legend for sure!
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.
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
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.
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.
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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!
Always enjoyable to watch, a man of many many talents
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.
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.
Could watch fred all day
No h&s in his day
The last of his kind. The early shows following him as a steeplejack were gems.
"Did ye like that?"
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.
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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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.
See also...link...and the rest of that thread.
There's a nice bronze statute of Fred in Bolton town centre. Lovely fella.
A proper bloke and a proper Engineer. When others gave up on a problem, Fred would usually find a solution!
A brave man .
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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The Odd-Job Boy of Clitheroe - reminds me of Fred a bit.
https://youtu.be/VwpuGv85tyQ
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....)