30 years on.... Fred Dibnah's weathercock at Royles Brook Primary School, Thornton-Cleveleys

Mr H visits Thornton-Cleveleys in Blackpool.and Mrs H takes a trip down memory lane as they visit her old primary school at Royles Brook to take a look at one of Fred Dibnah's handmade weathercocks that's still in place 30 years after she and her classmates watched Fred install it on the roof of the school in the early 1990's.
#freddibnah
#freddibnahsteeplejack
#freddibnahbolton

[@247hinkey]

Called to Fred's house a few months ago - able to walk down to his work sheds. very sad to see it empty. Well at least got a picture of the chimney at the back.

[@MrHsHotPot]

Hi 247hinkey, I haven't been back to Fred's house as such since the property changed hands and it was pretty much empty back then but I believe that the new owner is carrying on the tradition started by the former owner Leon Powsney of allowing Fred Dibnah fans a quick look around the yard and sheds when he's not busy. Sadly with each passing year a little bit more of Fred inevitably slips away as the new owner makes the space his own but it is good that he both recognises the history of the property and what it means to fans of Fred Dibnah.

[@chaddamp2894]

it hurts still that he is'nt with us...god bless you fred ,we watched you from the start of your tv progs and still still really do love and miss you xx

[@MrHsHotPot]

Hi Chaddamp, yes Fred's passing is still felt by many in part I think because he was so unique and there hasn't been a natural successor to pick up from where he left off. Hopefully you enjoyed taking a look at some of Freds work that can still be seen today albiet from a distance.

[@garycanning7015]

What a legend he was . Like you said a snip at 2grand .

[@MrHsHotPot]

Hi Gary, yes Fred was a legend and a true working class hero but sadly I don't think Britain will see men like him again. Some touted Guy Martin as being Freds natural successor however I think that is more out of a desperation to fill the void as no disrespect to Guy Martin but Fred would run rings around him if he was still alive today. Anyway it's nice to see some of Freds work still in place today and hopefully the current staff of the school are aware of what they have and how valuable it is now that Fred is sadly no longer around.

[@gillhespy]

This is great to see. I was also there in that footage and recall the day Fred installed the weathervane very well. Really nice that you gave Ian Aird such a good mention, he was a wonderful head teacher.

[@joeloxig6872]

Looks like its still going strong that weathercock, I wonder if that stone ball he put on top of his house is still in place

[@MrHsHotPot]

Hi Joeloxig6872, yeah from what I could see from this side of the school gates it appears to still be in very good condition given the salty sea air of a seaside town. And I can confirm that the stone ball is still in place on his former home back in Bolton although he later added a spike to it to make into a more decorative final but it's still there where he placed it all those years ago. 🙂

[@mancroft]

Very interesting, Mr H. Thank you.

[@MrHsHotPot]

Hi Mancroft, you're welcome and glad that you found the video interesting. 👍

[@shanehall98]

Thanks for the video I always get excited when I see a new Fred Dibnah video.

[@MrHsHotPot]

Hi Shane, I still have a number of locations that Fred's work can still be seen left to visit. It's just a case of finding the time to go and do them justice as Fred started to travel further afield in his later years both as his TV fame grew and the chimney work in and around his native Bolton started to dry up. Hopefully now that my son has started school I'll be able to get out a bit more with the camera and visit some of them. Many thanks for commenting and all the best. 👍

[@cliffhardy3179]

I know of another one of those on a private house that I don't think alot of people know about, bin men use to see his land-rover outside house when he was fitting it.

[@madmeddler99]

NICE 1 THE Hs 👈😎👉

[@MrHsHotPot]

Cheers Ste, and hope that you enjoyed the video. 👍

[@johnhayes4110]

Thanks Mr&Mrs H, Greetings from Ireland

[@MrHsHotPot]

No problem John, glad that you enjoyed the video and all the best. 👍

[@chevchelios6155]

I am only sorry for your wife

[@Keithbarber]

When you are in a public space one is free to photograph/film freely *WITHOUT PERMISSION/AUTHORITY* so even if filming when the school was open, there is nothing the school could do about it, but it's probably wise to avoid confrontation with ill informed idiots from the school...

[@MrHsHotPot]

Hi Keith, thanks for that I am aware that I don't need anyone's permission to film or take photographs in or from a public space however sometimes it's just easier to apply a bit of common sense when filming something like a school to avoid any misunderstandings or ugly accusations/confrontations. TBH the school would be failing in it's duty of care if no one challenged some random couple outside it's gates filming the building when there are children about as sadly not everyone's intentions are harmless and innocent.

[@CJA150179]

Wow, Great to see it still there...

[@hancecrawford]

Hi Mr H pot I went to bolton I saw Fred's statue but it didn't look like him, that weather cock still standing the test of time, Fred is looking down and smiling mate I trust you and the family are keeping well

[@chris-ro5zx]

Great vid mr h.

[@noseyparker6368]

Nice one Mr & Mrs H

[@MrHsHotPot]

Cheers for that Nosey Parker, glad that you enjoyed the video and all the best. 👍

[@noseyparker6368]

@@MrHsHotPot cheers please keep them coming i miss the northern dialect and local stories especially around Fred Dibnah. Being overseas you miss the little things in life. I realise it is a time consuming project you making these videos. Thanks in advance

[@gwinniboots]

Lovely to see, Mr H. Fred was such a talented man. RIP Fred.

[@MrHsHotPot]

Hi Gwyn, and glad that you enjoyed the video I fully agree with you regarding him being a very talented man. Sadly I don't think we will ever see hard grafters like Fred in the UK anymore who weren't afraid to call a spade a spade especially in the current political climate.

[@Gr8thxAlot]

I always wondered how these were faring after decades, and this one looks great. What a treasure, thanks for the video.

[@Jkk55]

That was lovely to see Fred thank you Mr H !

[@MrHsHotPot]

Hi JulesKK5, you're welcome and glad that you enjoyed the video. 👍

[@michaelalker5804]

Nice Hotpot bud A was sat punderin while a watched A wonder how many weathecocks are still out there And A was wondering if he numbered them Another Fred jigsaw piece slotted into place

[@MrHsHotPot]

Hi mate, there's at least another one out there that I know of and a possible one which I'll take a look at when I get the time but I should imagine it all depends on how open they are to the elements and how well they have been maintained since Fred installed them as to how many are still about. He probably did start numbering them later on especially this design which he describes as "The latest masterpiece in weathercocks" but I doubt he numbered the earlier ones and it's a shame that he only really perfected his weathercock design towards the end of his life. Another thing to think about is who has his design drawings for his weathercocks now as I'm sure Fred being engineer minded would have put them down on paper rather than just work from memory. Would be interesting to know if either of his sons Jack or Roger both of which went on to study engineering themselves inherited them.

[@richardhinchliffe1678]

Great little vlog MR H thank you to you and Mrs H

[@MrHsHotPot]

Hi Richard, and I hope you are keeping well? Glad that you enjoyed the video it's just a pity that I couldn't get closer to the weathercock to take a proper look at it but it's still good to see a bit of Fred's handywork even from a distance. Thanks as always for commenting and all the best. 👍

[@richardhinchliffe1678]

@@MrHsHotPot yes I’m very well Mr H thank you we still got a decent view of the weather cock and yes it’s fantastic his work is still on show look forward to the next vlog

[@loafersheffield]

I wonder if it is doubling up as an earth conductor, in case of lightning strikes? I wonder if the north arm is orientated towards true or magnetic north? I know a mucky joke about weather cocks, but I'll save that......

[@MrHsHotPot]

Could be Loafer, unfortunately it's impossible to see if an earth strap is attached to it from outside the school gates and in hindsight I should have taken my binoculars with me which I can now kick myself for not doing. But it is plausable that it could be used as an earth conducter as I've seen another clip of the main frame of this weathercock being installed when the school was still a new build and in it Fred states that this weathercock was made from copper and brass he also states that he just uses a compass to line them up with 'north' but dosen't elaborate as to whether he means true or magnetic north. A link to the video of that clip can be found below if you are interested, but don't let the name of 'New County Primary School fool you as it's the same building as the one in my video just before the school was given a name. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mmjOm4akh82epJI&t

[@loafersheffield]

Thanks, pal@@MrHsHotPot

[@susanm3503]

Fred was a class act. Thankyou for the vid.

[@MrHsHotPot]

Hi Susan, Fred certainly was a class act and like many others I'll never tire of watching his documentaries. Glad that you enjoyed the video and taking a look at some of his work that can still be seen today albiet from a distance in this case.

[@0777cnut]

I live nr that school 😂

[@MrHsHotPot]

Hi The Equalizer !!, small world isn't it? Lol. Here's a link below if you are interested to a video when Fred attached the main frame of this weathercock to the school when it was still a new build and was still being referred to as 'New County Primary School' before being given the name that it has today. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mmjOm4akh82epJI&t