“Fred Dibnah’s World” celebrates the life and work of Britain’s best known steeplejack and national treasure, Fred Dibnah. Before his death in 2004, Fred presented many popular series, including “Magnificent Monuments”, “The Age of Steam” and “Made in Britain”, all of which attracted viewers in their millions.

“Fred” is the companion to the 12-part “BBC2″ series celebrating the life of this great man, which combines highlights from some of Dibnah’s classic programmes with previously unseen footage. The book can of course go much further than the series, including an extraordinarily account of Fred’s childhood which evokes a lost England and our great industrial heritage.

Fred’s passion for the glories of the Victorian age and his fascination with the landscape he grew up in, plus his admiration for the craftsmen and labourers who made it all possible, captivate us on every page. Fred is the personification of everything that made England great in the first place. And this is a glorious tribute to a man whom millions came to love.

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Details

Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Bantam Press (2 Sep 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0593056647
ISBN-13: 9780593056646
Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.8 x 3.6 cm

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When Fred Dibnah debuted on television in 1979, British audiences immediately embraced a new cultural icon: a steeplejack from Bolton who fell in love with England’s decaying industrial landscape and an exhaustive storyteller whose charm and wit was matched only by his down-to-earth manner. The Producer of that first film, Don Haworth, would go on to make nineteen films about this unlikely celebrity and true British eccentric.

“Did You Like That?” collects the best stories from these films: colourful tales told by Fred himself, recounting key moments in his life, his experiences as a steeplejack, his fascination with machinery, his work as an engineer, craftsman, artist, inventor and steam enthusiast, and his forthright views on life in general.

Told with true Northern grit, “Did You Like That?” is the story of a man who never shied away from a hair-raising challenge, and the closest thing to Fred’s autobiography we’re likely to get.

This is Fred’s story, in his own words.

Details

Hardcover: 192 pages
Publisher: BBC Books (28 May 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1846076374
ISBN-13: 9781846076374

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Accompanying the television series and DVD, Fred Dibnah tells Britain’s industrial history and picks out the machinery that made history. Traveling throughout Britain, Dibnah describes what life was really like for people in the industrial age and provides a list of industrial heritage sites to visit.

Details

Hardcover: 192 pages
Publisher: BBC Books (11 Feb 1999)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0563384824
ISBN-13: 9780563384823
Product Dimensions: 24.9 x 19 x 2.8 cm

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Rare Book, written based on the BBC film in which Fred first appeared.

Contents

• Early Days
• False Starts
• High Climbs
• Me Marriage
• Odd Jobs
• Chimney Pieces
• Trade Secrets
• Steam Engines
• The Rest of Fred.

Details

Hardcover: 96 pages
Publisher: Line One Pub (3 Dec 1983)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0907036171
ISBN-10: 9780907036173

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Among other things, Fred tells of the trials and tribulations of rebuilding a steam roller in his back garden.

Details

Hardcover: 96 pages
Publisher: Line One (1 Dec 1984)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0907036201
ISBN-13: 9780907036203
Product Dimensions: 24.9 x 19 x 2.8 cm

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The new book and free DVD “Fred Dibnah Memories of a Steeplejack”. This book goes on the shelves of W.H.Smith’s on Friday 5th October, and is predicted to be one of their best sellers this season. Here is your chance to get the bookazine a few days before the official release direct from the producers.

The new bookazine has 22 chapters (8 Chapters by Fred Dibnah) 6 Chapters by Fred’s widow Sheila Dibnah. Stories by (Fred’s pals) Alf Molyneux, Michael Webber, Neil Carney, Paul Donoghue, Alan McEwan, Eddy Chattwood and a poignant Eulogy by Patrick Donoghue. Includes 220 Photographs (Many previously unseen) and 43 fantastic Illustrations.

They made me a Doctor
Fred at Birmingham University collecting his honorary doctorate Fred’s widow Sheila Dibnah, tells the story of a very special day. Includes rare footage of Fred collecting his honorary doctorate and his unique acceptance speech.

Fred Dibnah’s Engines “A moving story”
New film. A very sad day in Bolton. It’s Boxing Day and Fred Dibnah’s treasured traction engines leave their home for the very last time. Experts battle on a cold winter’s day, to remove the engines to a safe location after a tide of thefts from Fred’s estate.

Fred and the night watchman “Putting the world to rights”
Previously unseen footage of Fred and a demolition site night watchman putting the world to rights. This footage is very funny and will bring a smile to your face as you remember the real Fred Dibnah.

Details

Hardcover & DVD: unknown pages
Publisher: Rallyscene (2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: unknown
ISBN-13: 9781427621672

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Mid-Cheshire based heritage transportation specialist photographer and feature writer Keith Langston travelled extensively with Fred Dibnah during the filming of his last TV series, ‘Made in Britain.’ Following Fred’s untimely death, Keith embarked upon the creation of a book, drawing not only on his experiences with the Bolton born steeplejack and TV presenter, but in addition talking to a representative cross section of those persons who numbered themselves amongst Fred’s many friends.

Fred became a high profile media personality and the fame which accompanied that status never affected him, or in any way changed his down to earth demeanour. He will be remembered not only for his many practical achievements, but also for encouraging thousands of others to care about our industrial heritage.

The steam bug infected Fred at a very early age possibly following his illicit visits to his father’s place of work, a bleach factory. Encouraged by one of his ex teachers Fred started what he described as ‘a steeplejack business’.

When he turned to presenting his own programmes his blunt, no nonsense style made a welcome change from the so called television professionals. His genius lay in being able to communicate with the audience in simple, direct, colloquial English.

Details

Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: Wharncliffe Books/Pen & Sword Books Ltd (17 Sep 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1845631153
ISBN-10: 9781845631154

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He reveals how the steam engine provided the first practical means of generating power from heat to augment the old sources of power (from muscle, wind and water) and provided the main source of power for the Industrial Revolution.

In “Fred Dibnah’s Age of Steam” Fred shares his passion for steam and meets some of the characters who devote their lives to finding, preserving and restoring steam locomotives, traction engines and stationary engines, mill workings and pumps.

Combined with are the stories of central figures of the time, including James Watt – inventor of the steam engine and Richard Trevithick who played a key role in the expansion of industrial Britain in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Details

Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: BBC Books (3 Jul 2003)
ISBN-10: 0563487437
ISBN-13: 9780563487432
Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 16.6 x 2.4 cm

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Details

Hardcover: 192 pages
Publisher: BBC Books; New edition edition (29 Aug 1996)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0563387653
ISBN-13: 978-0563387657

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The author Alan McEwen is a renowned consultant boiler engineer, industrial historian and writer, and was one of Fred’s closest friends for almost 25 years. Alan attended a significant number of Fred’s chimney demolition jobs, and regularly assisted with the art of building the massive bonfires that Fred cleverly engineered for the destruction of the gigantic 200 feet tall cotton mill chimney stacks. He was therefore, at the heart of this amazing and ofttimes highly dangerous demolition work, which has enabled him to write passionately and correctly regarding his long time, famous friend, Fred Dibnah’s dramatic chimney drops.

FRED DIBNAH’S CHIMNEY DROPS is chock full of wonderfully exciting and evocative stories covering Fred’s chimney demolition projects all over the North West…………… and the pictures, the majority taken by the author himself are historically important documents that dramatically portray Fred Dibnah at the height of his long career as a Master Steeplejack and Chimney Demolition Expert.

FRED DIBNAH’S CHIMNEY DROPS is simply a must for industrial historians and not least for Fred Dibnah fans everywhere

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Details

Hardcover: 200 pages
Publisher: Sledgehammer Engineering Press (Oct 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0953272516
ISBN-13: 9780953272518
Product Dimensions: 24.9 x 19 x 2.8 cm

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Direct
You can purchase this excellent book directly from the author for just £27.00 including postage. Email Alan McEwen for more details or to place your order by telephone/post.