A NEW book about Bolton’s steeplejack star Fred Dibnah reveals a different side to the great man Fred the Sailor!
Author Keith Langston controversial (See Widow is absolutely incensed’ below) chronicles many previously unheard tales of Fred’s life, including a stint aboard the 72 ft training vessel Francis Drake.
Fred, who died 18 months ago after a brave three-year battle with cancer, is as high-profile as ever thanks to continuing TV programmes.
But, few will associate the rolling seas with the Boltonian who had a love for all things industrial.
As long-time friend Roger Murray explains in the book, the yacht had developed steering problems and he had enlisted Fred’s help to make a new steering arm, inviting him on a weekend voyage.
The fun started, however, as soon as Fred “landed” on the yacht at its mooring in Glasson Dock, near Lancaster.
Two heavy thuds on deck initially alerted the crew below. The first was his tool bag, and the second was Fred himself in his “sailing gear” his usual flat cap, waistcoat and watch chain “and, unbelievably, toe-capped industrial boots”.
On being asked in no uncertain terms where his deck shoes were, “Fred nonchalantly lifted one of his boots up to reveal strips of what looked like thick rubber tyre secured with big screws driven into the sole – obviously a bit of his own ingenious handiwork.
“Don’t worry, Cap’n. I’ve fitted em with special rubber non-slip soles,’ he announced blithely, this being his well-considered concession to becoming a yachty,” reports Roger Murray.
In spite of this dubious start, Fred soon got to grips with ship’s life, taking his turn in the galley and on the watch, and at the wheel in particularly heavy seas. During the watch, the sail caught in one of the backstays and jammed. Someone was needed to climb up the 80 ft mast to free it.
Fred said he quite fancied the climb, shinned up the mast and managed to free the halyard, “but Fred didn’t come down.”
The skipper eventually went up to see if he was all right. The two had a lengthy conversation “about how mill chimneys can actually sway in the wind”, and Fred opted to stay aloft for a while, where he felt at home.
By the time he came down, Fred had worked out how to stop the halyards fouling on the backstays and offered to fix it.
Back on dry land, Fred not only fixed the backstays’ problem but also redesigned and improved the steering arm.
As Roger Murrary recalls, he left the crew with warm abiding memories. “The sight of his determined figure behind the wheel of the magnificent sailing vessel as she ploughed through the waves was priceless especially as the steel toe-caps had now turned red with rust . . .”
Fred Dibnah Vol 2, published by Morton’s Heritage Media, will be on sale nationwide in WH Smith stores, priced at £6.99
Widow is absolutely incensed’
ONE person not happy with the new publication is Fred’s widow, Sheila. She says she is considering legal action against author Keith Langston over various allegations in the book.
“I was absolutely incensed and heartbroken when I saw what had been written. The book suggests that Fred was left alone, lonely, hungry and miserable during his final days.
“This was never the case. Friends can testify Fred was always made as comfortable as possible and given the best possible nourishment available.
“He was never lonely and that’s because of the sheer numbers of people who visited him.”
Mrs Dibnah added that she was disappointed not to have been asked to “say a few words about my wonderful husband” for the book. “I don’t consider it in any way an accurate comment on his final years,” she stated.
Keith Langston is on holiday currently and unavailable for comment The book, Fred Dibnah Vol 2 published by Morton’s Heritage Media, will be on sale nationwide in WH Smith’s stores. It has an official launch on Thursday, June 15, at WH Smith’s in Victoria Square, Bolton when the author will be on hand to sign copies.
The publishers will also be presenting a cheque for £10,000 to the Fred Dibnah Memorial Appeal which was launched to provide a permanent memorial to Fred.
Another book about Fred, written by Paul Donoghue and published by Ralley Scene, has Mrs Dibnah’s full backing.
She said the fans will be given the chance to read Fred’s own words and stories. A pound from the sale of each copy will go to the fund and this is expected to raise in the region of £20,000.
(source Friday, 2 June 2006)
