FRED Dibnah made no mention of his wife in his will, The Bolton News can reveal today after seeing its full contents.
Fred’s last will and testament, made just three weeks before his death on November 6, 2004, ensures his most loved possessions should go to his sons Jack and Roger and his daughters Jayne, Caroline and Lorna.
To his boys, he left his beloved Aveling and Porter steam tractor, Aveling and Porter 1910 steam roller and distinctive road menders’ hut.
His sons shared his passion for industrial heritage and even paid their last respects to their unique father by driving the vehicles in his funeral procession through the streets of Bolton.
His daughter Lorna gets his 1750 James Butler (Bolton) grandfather clock and his sons Jack and Roger get his collection of vehicle oil lamps, drawings done by Fred and his library on steam engines.
The sons are also willed the contents of his yard and workshop at his home in Radcliffe Road on the understanding that the executors of the will allow people to visit the yard while the property remains in Fred’s estate.
Everything else, including all property, income and future royalties from his television productions and books are to divided equally between the five children, being held in trust until they reach the age of 18.
Frederick Travis Dibnah appointed his friends William Richards, Alan Davies and Alf Molyneux as executors of his will and the £1,042,845 fortune he left.
Nowhere in the will is there any mention of his widow, Sheila Dibnah who claims he was distracted towards the end of his life when he cut her out of the will.
The former Blackpool showgirl was his third wife, marrying him in 1998 and has vowed to get a share of his estate by launching a legal bid to have the will overturned. Her solicitors will launch a reasonable provision claim.
(source Tuesday, 13 February 2007)
