I met Fred at a village Fete in Barnoldswick, Lancs in 1999, he was very polite and gracious and signed my “Made in Britain” book in the most beautiful scroll, I will treasure this forever as I am a big fan of Fred cos he reminds me of my dad who was a similar character in personality and skill, I miss them both and will be visiting the heritage centre soon as I only live in Burnley so it’s not too far.
i met fred at the black country museum when he was filming the ” MADE IN BRITAIN series”he was such a wonderful gentleman.i shaked his hand and said fred you are a rare man,a geniune man,god bless fred
Thank you Bob Humpage for putting words together that so many people have felt for a number of years! I was an avid watcher of Freds television programs and will never forget his way of making things sound so easy! Although I know this was not true! God bless and keep Freds soul in heaven for that is what he truely deserved.
dear all fred dibnah fan’s as a tribute to fred dibnah I going to drive my mamod traction engine across the Scammonden Bridge witch fred went over on his traction in his made in britan seris if any one would like to join me I will leave the details on this page I will ask sheila if she would like to come and watch us any one who wants more details can leave me a reply on this page
fred dibnah fan’s as a tribute to fred dibnah I going to drive my mamod traction engine witch will be towing a mamod open wagon with a matchbox model of fred’s steam rollor betsy in it across the Scammonden Bridge
Hi James,I’m a huge Fred fan,he was such a lovely chap,I was interested to know if your crossing the bridge with your model Mamod steam engine was successful?have you any interesting stories connected with it?
I’ve just been searching the web to see when Fred visited the The Great Dorset Steam Fair held each August.I see he did and they made a video of it so I hope to get to watch it one day…I did go to that event last Saturday with my son in law and is a wonderful show,I think one needs two or three days to get around and enjoy it all.Fred really must have been in his glory meeting so many steam enthusiast from all over the world,I bet he didn’t have to buy himself 1 pint Ha.
Freds engines etc are a long way from me in south Somerset and its unlikely they will be down this way but I would love to see them some time.
Best wishes from Derek.Merriott.Somerset.
I was brought up watching Fred from as young as I can remember and I thank my father for that. I feel humbled to have known about Fred and his amazing life and only wish I could of met the man that I regarded as a father figure and all round great bloke!! I’ve been able to pay my respects at his grave and hope to visit his home and amazing backyard soon! RIP Fred Dibnah
Just wanted to say, what a top fella and it was a pleasure knowing him
Nicole Stevenson , Jim stevenson owned “Cinderella”
I met Fred at a village Fete in Barnoldswick, Lancs in 1999, he was very polite and gracious and signed my “Made in Britain” book in the most beautiful scroll, I will treasure this forever as I am a big fan of Fred cos he reminds me of my dad who was a similar character in personality and skill, I miss them both and will be visiting the heritage centre soon as I only live in Burnley so it’s not too far.
Tremendous Man
A real man
i met fred at the black country museum when he was filming the ” MADE IN BRITAIN series”he was such a wonderful gentleman.i shaked his hand and said fred you are a rare man,a geniune man,god bless fred
Fred Dibnah, Steeplejack
He was only a lad from Bolton
Fred Dibner was his name
He drove an old land rover
And chimneys were his game
There came a team from the BBC
With Fred they came to speak
We want to film you at your work
And show it once a week.
With ropes and ladders tied on tight
He climbed up to the tops
He fixed them, or he knocked them down
With the help of old pit props,
He went to Canvey Island
A chimney there should fall.
It fell a day too early
It was his closest call.
On steeples and up bell towers
He worked to shape the stone
His apex was the weather vane
In the wind it stood alone.
His hobby was his engines
To rebuild and to drive
With smoke and steam and oil
He made them seem alive.
He took his roller out one day
A chimney there to build
The roller ran away with him
It nearly got him killed
A tour of steam driven Britain
He wanted to complete
Not quite his final journey
But a lasting brilliant feat
Until our friend Fred left us
He never lost his hat
We use his words to say goodbye
Did yer like that?
Copyright, Bob Humpage February 2011
Thank you Bob Humpage for putting words together that so many people have felt for a number of years! I was an avid watcher of Freds television programs and will never forget his way of making things sound so easy! Although I know this was not true! God bless and keep Freds soul in heaven for that is what he truely deserved.
dear all fred dibnah fan’s as a tribute to fred dibnah I going to drive my mamod traction engine across the Scammonden Bridge witch fred went over on his traction in his made in britan seris if any one would like to join me I will leave the details on this page I will ask sheila if she would like to come and watch us any one who wants more details can leave me a reply on this page
thank you
james
Sounds like a great idea James.
thanks joe for your reply would you like to join me
thank you
james
dear all
fred dibnah fan’s as a tribute to fred dibnah I going to drive my mamod traction engine witch will be towing a mamod open wagon with a matchbox model of fred’s steam rollor betsy in it across the Scammonden Bridge
thank you
james
dear all
dose anyone now witch school fred dibnah went to or witch primary schooldid fred made a weathercock for
anyone with information please tell me
thank you
james
Hi James,I’m a huge Fred fan,he was such a lovely chap,I was interested to know if your crossing the bridge with your model Mamod steam engine was successful?have you any interesting stories connected with it?
I’ve just been searching the web to see when Fred visited the The Great Dorset Steam Fair held each August.I see he did and they made a video of it so I hope to get to watch it one day…I did go to that event last Saturday with my son in law and is a wonderful show,I think one needs two or three days to get around and enjoy it all.Fred really must have been in his glory meeting so many steam enthusiast from all over the world,I bet he didn’t have to buy himself 1 pint Ha.
Freds engines etc are a long way from me in south Somerset and its unlikely they will be down this way but I would love to see them some time.
Best wishes from Derek.Merriott.Somerset.
I was brought up watching Fred from as young as I can remember and I thank my father for that. I feel humbled to have known about Fred and his amazing life and only wish I could of met the man that I regarded as a father figure and all round great bloke!! I’ve been able to pay my respects at his grave and hope to visit his home and amazing backyard soon! RIP Fred Dibnah
Did yer like that!
Benjamin