FredDibnah.co.uk

Just been sent the below video from Fred’s marriage to Sheila. Nice wee insight to Fred’s life right from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. Would be great to get the full version.

The folks over at the Heritage Centre have just put a pair Fred’s Blacksmiths Tongs (pictured right)up for auction, bidding starting from 99p.

In the usual caps lock style we are told:

PLEASE BEAR IN MIND THAT THIS SALE IS FOR ONE REASON ONLY AND THAT IS TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE RESTORATION OF FREDS PLACE.

ONLY LISTED FOR AUCTION AS WE HAVE A SURPLUS, AND MAKE NO MISTAKE THESE TONGUES ARE ORIGINAL AND COME COMPLETE WITH A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY FROM THE FRED DIBNAH HERITAGE CENTRE.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUERIES PLEASE CONTACT US BY EMAIL

THEY ARE QUITE HEAVY SO I AM ONLY GUESSING AT POSTAGE COSTS UNLESS YOU WISH TO PICK UP, YOU COULD EVEN COMBINE PICKING THEM UP WITH A TOUR OF THE CENTRE MAYBE AND GET A DISCOUNT ON THE TOUR.

PLEASE EMAIL US AT FREDDIBNAHTOURS@LIVE.COM FOR DETAILS AND REASSURANCE OF AUTHENTICITY.

Click for more details:

The World Premiere of The Demolition Man will be coming to the Octagon Theatre Bolton in April 2011, a funny and insightful new play written about the life of Northern legend Fred Dibnah.

The cast of The Demolition Man includes Colin Connor in the role of Fred Dibnah, joined by Michelle Collins in the role of his wife Sheila. The cast visited the Fred Dibnah Heritage Centre in Bolton as part of their research looking into the life of Fred.

Update: just got a copy of the play itself:

As part of the production process for The Demolition Man the cast had to shoot some footage on location at Fred Dibnah’s workshop. Here they are getting to grips with some heavy machinery

Kate Dorset’s has just posted some excellent photos from what seems to be her recent visit to the Heritage Centre.

Fred Dibnah's Garden

Fred Dibnah's Workshop

Proposed Chimney Upgrades

You can view all the photos here.

Microlight7 has just posted a couple of videos showing Fred off camera in 2003. Enjoy

An amateur video taken at Fred Dibnah’s home in 2003 whilst the BBC were filming a TV series.

This is what Fred Dibnah was like away from the TV cameras! This video is a short snippet of what things were like on the Saturday mornings at Fred’s when a group of us used to help him dig his “pit shaft” in the garden of his home. Although just a few minutes long, this video shows Fred relaxing with a few friends on one of our hilarious Saturday mornings!

Credit: RiverSideSteamRally.co.uk

The Riverside Steam and Vintage Vehicle Rally at Banks, near Southport, on April 16 and 17 is going to have several vehicles of especial interest to Fred fans:

• Betsy, the 1910 Aveling & Porter Steam Roller and the living van
• Fred’s Landrover complete with ladders
• Aveling & Porter “Colonial” steam traction engine recently named “Fred”

This will be the first time that all three iconic Fred vehicles will be displayed together and comes close to answer the questions in the forum as to where all Fred’s vehicles have ended up.

Official news release:

We are delighted in our 3rd year to welcome the family of the late Fred Dibnah to our rally. Jack and Roger will be displaying Fred’s Aveling and Porter Steam Roller “Betsy” together with the living van. They will also be keeping a close eye on Fred’s A & P “Colonial” tractor kindly exhibited by Mr Michael Oliver of Knutsford who purchased the engine at auction last July.

Fred’s daughters will not be left out and will be exhibiting Fred’s iconic Land Rover, complete with ladders. Our thanks to Lorna’s husband Alastair for the “Landys” appearance. This will be the first rally that all Fred’s engines and Landy have appeared.

For more information on the event and booking please visit RiverSideSteamRally.co.uk

Update: More coverage here: Lancashire Evening Post: Full Steam Ahead, The Bolton News: Fred’s engines will steam along to seaside rally

Update #2: Here’s some footage from the event

A steam engine that used to belong to former steeplejack Fred Dibnah is being named in his honour at a special ceremony tomorrow (Saturday 12th March 2011).

Businessman Michael Oliver snapped up the late Fred’s famous Aveling and Porter steam traction engine at auction last year for £264,000 — more than twice the guide price.

Fred’s son, Jack, will drive the engine from the headquarters of Mr Oliver’s firm, Oliver Valves, in Knutsford, Cheshire, to the Church Inn in nearby Mobberley for the ceremony.

Mr Oliver said: “Fred is a cult figure and a national institution, so it seemed only fitting that we honoured his engineering genius by naming his beloved engine after him.

“We also thought it fitting for Jack to take the helm on its first excursion. I bought the engine to ensure its preservation so it can be enjoyed by generations to come. I hope steam enthusiasts and Fred Dibnah fans alike will join us to celebrate the iconic machine.”

The engine will be named “Fred” after its famous steeplejack owner, and one of Bolton’s most treasured sons, who died in November, 2004.

Fred spent almost 25 years restoring the engine and Mr Oliver, aged 72, has been putting the finishing touches to it since he bought it last July.

Mr Oliver owns an extensive engine collection, including the only full-size Garrett Showman’s road locomotive built, called British Hero.

Fred’s engine is expected to leave Oliver Valves at 2.30pm, arriving at The Church Inn at 3.30pm, with the naming ceremony between 3.30pm and 4pm.

Mr Dibnah’s family reluctantly sold the engine to finance the winding up costs of his estate after a long-running dispute with his widow, Sheila Dibnah.

Bill King, director of Cambridge auctioneers Cheffins, which handled the sale, said the high price was a testament to Fred’s skill, knowledge and big personality.

(Source: The Bolton News)

Some footage of the event: