Dayle Perry, aged 36, is the proud owner of a limited edition model of Fred’s Mamod steam wagon.

A range of miniature steam engines have been made to raise money for the Fred Dibnah Memorial Appeal.

Mr Perry, from Rochdale, put in a bid for the wagon on internet auction site e-Bay and secured it for £361.

He visited Fred’s yard in Radcliffe Road, Bolton, to pick up the model from Fred’s widow Sheila.

Mr Perry was also given a guided tour of Fred’s workshops and got the opportunity to look at treasures that included Fred’s favourite engine Betsy.

He said: “I’m very nostalgic and am fascinated by anything old. I also wanted to support the memorial fund and am thrilled I have had the opportunity to come and look round the yard.

“I never met Fred but I saw him several times. I work in Maple Mill in Oldham which Fred has worked on.

“I also watched him demolish his last chimney.”

The models, on a scale of 1:18, have been made by the internet business steam4fun.co.uk and were donated to Sheila to raise money for the fund. Each model comes with a brass plaque and an authenticity certificate.

The Bolton Civic Trust, in conjunction with the Bolton Evening News, is spearheading the Fred Dibnah Memorial Appeal to extend the glass case housing the Hick Hargreaves steam engine in Oxford Street so that it can include a statue of Fred, who lost his battle against cancer in 2004.

Simon Swift, who owns steam4fun.co.uk, buys the machines in flat packs and then adds his own finishing touches to them to replicate Fred’s machines.

He said: “I have loved steam since I was a child and I met Fred several times at steam fairs. I would have loved to have shown him the steam wagon model. He would have loved it.”

Sheila Dibnah said: “It was a very generous offer by Simon to make it and donate it to help raise money for the memorial fund.”

A miniature of Fred’s steam roller has already been sold on e-Bay for £355.

And a model replica of Fred’s famous green caravan has also been made by Mr Swift and is to be auctioned on e-Bay in around three weeks.

Donations to the appeal, which already totals more than £16,000, can be made at Lloyds TSB, Hotel Street, Bolton.

(source Tuesday, 2 May 2006)