Through compelling features and never before seen photographs this magbook looks back at Fred’s fascinating early life, and celebrates the journey of the humble steeplejack who grew to become the king of his trade.

The publication also includes an audio CD called “Fred Dibnah Live” with recordings from his live tours including:

1. The Early Days  (11mins)
2. T.V. Times (8mins)
3. Canvey Island Disaster (17mins)
4. Heavens Above (6mins)
5. Tristain’s Tale (2mins)
6. Car Spotting (2mins)
7. Ashes to Ashes (5mins)
8. Nine Lives (11mins)
9. Donald at the Bottom (7mins)
10. One in Four (3mins)

More details from the book’s press release:

Paul Donoghue has spent the last 6 months secretly working on the Fred Dibnah book from his office suite in the newly refurbished Station Business Centre on Station Road, Clowne.

Paul worked with Fred Dibnah in the early 1990’s, and following Fred’s second television series was responsible for Fred’s very first commercial video release. I saw, filmed and photographed it all said Paul, from chimney demolitions, placing weather vanes on the tops of church spires, and all the activities with Fred’s traction engines at his amazing steam powered yard in Bolton.

“I feel honoured to have known and worked with Fred Dibnah said Paul, he was such a unique character. The thing with Fred was that he was the real deal, no airs and graces, what you saw on television was exactly what you got in real life. My greatest memory of Fred was when I was filming him laddering (and inspecting) a huge chimney on the outskirts of Bolton, when Fred eventually reached the top, which incidentally was 180ft tall, he simply climbed off the ladder and then started to walk around the chimney rim with no safety rails or anything to hold on to. As I looked up I will never forget Fred standing there looking down at me with his arms folded as though he was waiting for a bus. Amazing said Paul. He shouted down an invitation to join him at the top. Which I politely declined.”

“During my time with Fred Dibnah we both decided to write a book together. Fred handed over many 100s of old documents and photographs for the project and we managed complete 6 chapters together. Half way through I received a disappointing phone call from Fred saying he would have to pull out of the book because the BBC were returning to make a new television series about him. He always said that we would complete what we had started, but his fame, television commitments and contracts made it impossible for Fred to finish the work he started with me.”

The new Book-Mag is a continuation of the unfinished work I started with Fred Dibnah all those years ago said Paul. Something had to be done with the Fred Dibnah archive I had amassed. I began by acquiring the rights to all Fred’s early books that were written in his own words back in the early 1980’s and set about compiling a book that would be totally in Fred’s own words, using photographs, rare documents and drawings that nobody had seen or used before. The result has been well worth the effort and I am very proud of what I have achieved, it’s a very funny book, beautifully illustrated throughout, and I am sure that the public will enjoy the opportunity to remember the real Fred Dibnah speaking in his own words. It’s a lovely tribute to a great man.

As an added bonus the Book-Mag comes with a free 80 minute compact disc of Fred Dibnah live on stage. The recording was made at one of the theatre venues where Fred appeared during his sell-out tour of England, the CD is hilarious from beginning to end as Fred tells some very funny stories about his life as a steeplejack.

Details

Hardcover: 132 pages
Publisher: Paul Donoghue, Dennis Publishing Ltd (13 Aug 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1907232001
ISBN-13: 9781907232008

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Fred Dibnah’s Great Buildings, new DVD.

The fifth release in a major new venture to release Fred’s archive footage on DVD.

Fred brings history vividly to life in his own inimitable hands-on style, and explains how the builders and engineers of the past created great castles, houses and churches, and developed a ship-building industry that was the envy of the world.

Disk One: Castle Builders

From Roman and Iron Age fortifications to a medieval castle that became a Second World War command centre, Fred looks at the work of some of Britain’s greatest castle builders. Shot on location at Dover, Eastnor, Warwick, Edinburgh, Beaumaris, Caernarfon, Conwy and Harlech Castles, Old Sarum and Hadrian’s Wall.

Disk Two: Master Builders

Fred served his apprenticeship as a joiner and he always had a great appreciation for the work of the craftsmen who worked on construction projects throughout the ages. Here he visits Bath, Winchester, York, Lacock, Culross, Ightham Mote and a medieval tithe barn in Sussex to see the work of builders, thatchers, roofers, carpenters and stonemasons.

Disk Three: Ship Builders

Ship building was one of Britain’s major industries and here, starting at the Historic Dockyard in Chatham, Fred gives his own distinctive view of the industry. He goes on board some of his favourite ships including SS Great Britain, HMS Warrior, the paddle steamer Waverley, SS Shieldhall and the Royal Yacht Britannia, visits the Windermere Steam Boat Museum and goes cruising on a steamboat on a Scottish loch.

Details

Format: PAL
Region: Region 2
Number of discs: 3 disk set
Classification: Exempt
Studio: Acorn Media UK
DVD Release Date: 7 Dec 2009
Run Time: 360 minutes

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Mills and factories; mines and quarries; iron foundries and steel works. Fred had a passion for Britain’s industrial past and he never tired of reminding us of the industrial genius that made Britain the ‘workshop of the world.’ Here he tells us the stories of Britain’s biggest industries as he takes us on a tour of his favorite industrial heritage sites.

Program 1: THE INDUSTRIAL LANDSCAPE

Fred was born in Bolton, Lancashire in 1938 and as a boy he fell in love with the decaying industrial landscape around him. It was a love that was to stay with him for the rest of his life. Fred paints a vivid picture of the Lancashire he grew up in before embarking on a journey around the industrial Britain of yesterday taking in Armley Mills in Leeds, North of England Open Air Museum at Beamish, Coldharbour Mill in Devon, Etruria Industrial Museum, Helmshore Textile Museum, Hook Norton Brewery, Quarry Bank Mill, Queen Street Mill in Burnley, Tees Cottage Pumping Station, Wetheriggs Country Pottery and Wigan Pier.

Program 2: RICHES BENEATH THE EARTH

When Fred was a lad coal was king and Britain still had a flourishing mining industry. Mining and all the engineering that was involved always fascinated Fred – not just coal, but lead, tin, iron ore and all the riches from beneath the earth that provided the raw materials for our industrial society. Filmed on location at Big Pit National Mining Museum, Geevor Tin Mine, Llechwedd Slate Caverns, National Coal Mining Museum, North of England Lead Mining Museum, Scottish Mining Museum, Welsh Slate Museum and Wet Earth Colliery, Fred gives us his own unique and highly personal history of mining in Britain.

Program 3: IRON AND STEEL

From Ironbridge Gorge in Shropshire, often described as the cradle of the Industrial Revolution, to a modern forge in Sheffield, Fred takes us around the country to tell us about the history of iron and steel making and to have a look at some of the processes. Share Fred’s excitement and watch the sparks fly with him as he visits Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet, Independent Forgings and Kelham Island Museum in Sheffield, Black Country Living Museum in Dudley, Finch Foundry in Devon, Ironbridge Gorge Museums and Workington Steel Works.

Details

Format: PAL
Region: Region 2
Number of discs: 1
EAN: 5036193097232
Classification: Exempt
Studio: Acorn Media
DVD Release Date: 11 May 2009
Run Time: 360 minutes

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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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Bringing to life landmark events from the eighteenth to the early twentieth century in his typically engaging and anecdotal style, Fred introduces the great inventors from the age of steam, describes the day-to-day operation of railways, mills, forges and factories, and paints a vivid picture of what life was like for the mill-hands, colliers and engineers who laboured in industrial Britain – the workshop of the world.

With a comprehensive gazetteer, which lists details of over 230 places of industrial interest – from steam railways and ships, to windmills and watermills – Foundries and Rolling Mills is a glorious portrait of Britain at the height of its industrial power, from one of our most revered figures.

Details

Hardcover: 192 pages
Publisher: BBC Books(June 22, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1846079799
ISBN-13: 978-1846079795

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Fred visits a number of iconic sites during his travels, from the medieval tithe barn in Sussex and the historic castle used as a command post during the Second World War, to the Windermere Steam Boat Museum and cruising on a Scottish loch on a steamboat. Fred also goes onboard some of his favourite ships, including SS Great Britain.

This three-disc set is Fred Dibnah’s sixth DVD collection, and features over five hours of previously unseen footage.

Disk One: CASTLE BUILDERS

From Roman and Iron Age fortifications to a medieval castle that became a Second World War command centre, Fred looks at the work of some of Britain ‘s greatest castle builders. Shot on location at Dover , Eastnor, Warwick , Edinburgh , Beaumaris, Caernarfon, Conwy and Harlech Castles , Old Sarum and Hadrian’s Wall .

Disk Two: MASTER BUILDERS

Fred served his apprenticeship as a joiner and he always had a great appreciation for the work of the craftsmen who worked on construction projects throughout the ages. Here he visits Bath , Winchester , York , Lacock, Culross, Ightham Mote and a medieval tithe barn in Sussex to see the work of builders, thatchers, roofers, carpenters and stonemasons.

Disk Three: SHIP BUILDERS

Ship building was one of Britain ‘s major industries and here, starting at the Historic Dockyard in Chatham , Fred gives his own distinctive view of the industry. He goes on board some of his favourite ships including SS Great Britain, HMS Warrior, the paddle steamer Waverley, SS Shieldhall and the Royal Yacht Britannia, visits the Windermere Steam Boat Museum and goes cruising on a steamboat on a Scottish loch.

Details

Format: PAL
Region: Region 2
Number of discs: 3
Classification: Exempt
Studio: Acorn
EAN/ISBN13: 5036193097225
DVD Release Date: 28 December 2009
Run Time: 360 minutes

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THE RAILWAY COLLECTION

THE STORY OF BRITAIN’S RAILWAYS
From the earliest wooden wagon ways to the last great days of steam and the birth of the railway preservation movement, Fred gives us his own unique history of the railways in Britain.

GREAT LITTLE STEAM RAILWAYS
Fred recollects his boyhood passion for steam railways, takes us on a tour of some of his favourite preservation lines and tells us some of his own railway stories.

MADE IN BRITAIN: RAILWAY YARDS AND WORKSHOPS
The skills of building, maintaining and restoring steam locomotives are still alive at the workshops of some of Britain’s preserved railways, and Fred visited some of the biggest on his traction engine grand tour of Britain for the series “Made In Britain”.

THE STEAM COLLECTION

THE STORY OF THE TRACTION ENGINE
Looks at the early steam carriages, the development of the traction engine, road locomotives, steamrollers, showman’s engines, steam lorries and preservation. Fred explains the history of the early steam-powered vehicles, from the development of the first traction engines to the great steam engines of the Twentieth Century.

Cornish engineer and inventor Richard Trevithick built an elegant and light steam carriage back in 1803 and Fred also comes face to face with a Puffing Devil from 1801. From wrecks to restored magnificence, Fred sees them all and meets the men who share his enthusiasm.

Taking in some of Britain’s major traction engine collections, Fred brings the history of the machines that helped shape Britain to life in his own inimitable style. Visiting the Long Shop Museum in Suffolk, he finds that Garrett’s Suffolk Punch isn’t quite what it seems and at The Thursford Collection, in Norfolk, we learn about George Cushing, who collected 45 of these engines.

The first steamroller was built by Thomas Aveling in 1867 but by the time that was superseded by the faster Wallis & Steevens Advanced steamrollers, petrol and diesel engines were taking over. During the First World War, traction engine wheels were used to move the big guns. Traction engines also generated the power for the Bioscope, an early form of cinema, and steam was also introduced into fairgrounds in the 1870s.

BRITAIN’S BIGGEST ENGINES
Mill engines, pit winding engines and pumping engines are covered seeing Fred visiting the 1907 state-of-the-art Trencherfield Mill at Wigan Pier — built by William Woods on the site of two earlier mills — that now houses one of the biggest surviving mill steam engines in the world.

He also visits Astley Green colliery, where enthusiasts have worked for twenty years on a large steam engine that once turned the huge wheel of the colliery. And then comes the very ornate Papplewick pumping station, built in 1884 to serve Nottingham.

ON THE ROAD WITH FRED
Follows Fred’s ‘grand tour’ of British steam history as he sets off with his friend Alf Molyneux around Cumbria, the Scottish borders, the North East and Yorkshire — in his own steam traction engine that he took 27 years restoring — and stops off at the famous Teesside landmark, the Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge.

Built in 1911, the Transporter Bridge is capable of carrying 600 people at a time. You walk (or drive) into a cradle suspended beneath the main span of the bridge — 160ft above the river Tees. This cradle then carries its cargo of cars and pedestrians across the river in less than three minutes.

Following a couple of setbacks and near-disasters, Fred is finally out on the road, driving through the lovely countryside of the North and meeting fellow enthusiasts. Fred is fascinating to listen to and his enthusiasm is infectious as he shares his experiences of the excitement and difficulties of owning a steam engine in Fred Dibnah’s Steam Collection.

Taken from the Made In Britain television series, this specially edited version shows the first half of Fred’s incredible journey in full, including footage not previously seen on television.

Details

Format: PAL
Region: Region 2
Number of discs: 6
Classification: Exempt
Studio: Acorn Media
EAN: 5036193099281
DVD Release Date: 1 June 2009
Run Time: 876 minutes

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Brand new MagBook from Paul Donoghue released April 2010.

With his charismatic charm, frank manner and relentless enthusiasm, Fred Dibnah – steeplejack and steam fanatic – held the nation captive from the start of his television career.

Delving into the extensive Dibnah archive and revealing fascinating documents and images, this exciting MagBook celebrates one of Fred’s greatest works and, more importantly, the life of one extraordinary man.

Details

Hardcover: 132 pages
Publisher: Dennis Publishing (22 April 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 190723246X
ISBN-13: 9781907232466
Product Dimensions: XXX

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Disk one: Back Street Mechanic
Fred always described himself as a ‘back street mechanic’ and the workshop in his garden where he did his ‘mechanicing’ was a one-off. It was all assembled from scrap and the cast offs from old mills and factories but it was probably the finest working example of a steam powered engineering workshop in the country. Fred takes us on a tour of the garden, shows us how everything works and demonstrates some of the jobs he can do in it.

Disk two: Fred’s Engines
Fred will always be associated with his two most famous engines, his steam roller Betsy and his Aveling and Porter convertible tractor. Here for the first time we hear from Fred the full story of his restoration of these two engines, see some of the work that went into the rebuild of the tractor and hear about some of his adventures on them including his famous Last Drop story when the roller ran out of control and crashed on a hill in Bolton.

Disk Three: Fred’s Coal Mine
It’s not everybody who has a coal mine in their back garden, but not everybody had a garden like Fred’s. In the last years of his life building a fully working replica mine complete with a 100 foot mineshaft, fully working pit head gear and an inclined plane railway became one of Fred’s great passions. Here Fred tells us about his plans in full, about his reasons for creating the mine and about his battles with the planners and we see the most comprehensive footage in existence of work on the mine.

View clip

Details

Format: PAL
Region: Region 2
Number of discs: 3 disks
Classification: Exempt
Studio: Contender Entertainment Group
DVD Release Date: 16 Nov 2009
Run Time: 462 mins

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