A SPANNER which once belonged to Fred Dibnah has been sold on the internet for £400.
The ten-inch tool had been put on the internet auction site eBay by Fred’s widow, Sheila, to raise money for the Fred Dibnah Memorial Appeal.
It was bought by Martyn Blackburn, aged 41, a company director, originally from Bolton, who describes himself as a lifelong fan of the legendary steeplejack.
Mr Blackburn and his business partner Ciaran O’Reilly, who own HBO Construction Ltd in Gloucestershire, visited Fred’s yard in Radcliffe Road, Bolton, on Tuesday, to pick up the spanner, and get a guided tour of Fred’s workshops.
Sheila Dibnah was given the spanner in 1996.
Mr Blackburn said: “I have always admired Fred and the chance to go and look in his yard was too good to miss. The spanner is going to go on display in the office. ”
The Bolton Civic Trust and The Bolton News are spearheading the Fred Dibnah Memorial Appeal to incoroporate a statue of Fred in a glass case next to the one housing the Hick Hargreaves steam engine in Oxford Street, Bolton.
Donations to the appeal,can be made at Lloyds TSB, Hotel Street, Bolton.
(source Friday, 17 November 2006)
