American Reacts to Fred Dibnah How to Bring Down a Chimney Stack

[@monkeytrumpet11]

Fred is every northern UK kids idea of an ideal grandad. Top bloke.

[@Lord_Shouty]

I live about 3 miles from where fred had his workshop ran into him a few times amazing man with huge knowledge of the industrial history of britian

[@philiprowney]

Perfect description.

[@monkeytrumpet11]

@@Lord_Shouty yeah his knowledge on traction engines and old victorian engineering was unsurpassed. He restored a few traction engines in his time and toured the country on them. Pretty sure they made a series about it tbh. All hail sir Fred. Man was a legend and tonight, I'm gonna drink a pint of mild in his honour. Here's to you Fred.

[@markarmour1898]

Not just Northern kids fella. I'm Irish living down south and he was a properly decent man.

[@cookie4wookiee]

Agree

[@MrGremlin69]

RIP FRED you are missed

[@slayer9240]

Indeed he is.

[@eumaeus]

As a steam enthusiast, inspired by Fred, I agree wholeheartedly.

[@cloudy7292]

Fellow Lancashire legend.

[@gravyboat2370]

True genius of a man

[@markthemaniac3350]

You definitely need to watch the 'Fred Dibnah - Steeplejack' video where he free-climbs one of these things. Man was a Legend.

[@jellybull]

@Mickey Finn My palms are sweating just reading that suggestion.

[@Durgesuth]

I’ve watched many toe curling videos of Fred climbing chimneys... going over overhangs .... that’s how they did it in those days.... health and safety was non existent back then

[@jellybull]

@Mickey Finn Oh I have, I was getting flashbacks. It's a great motivational tool.

[@tobortine]

Has my vote, that's an amazing video.

[@noelle3551]

@Mickey Finn and then he walks around on top of the chimney as if it was ground level 😂!!

[@HoneyBadger58]

Fred is an absolute legend. And so is his 3rd(?) wife. Bank Top Brewery of Bolton released a special ale named after Fred. Unfortunately, the incumbent Mrs Dibnah wanted a fat royalty. The company renamed their ale "Flat Cap". Their next two ales were named "Gold Digger" and "Old Slapper". Game, set and match I reckon.

[@dxcpt]

They all wanted his money, his assets were worth well over a million. Loved your comment on the ale! I hope she got the message.

[@tonyburton5706]

They could have just called the beer fred, she wouldn't be able to do a thing about it

[@Backs4more]

He was married 4 times and built a coal mine single handed, in his back yard. I once went to watch him give a talk. He stood on stage with a beer in his hand and spoke for 2 hours solid about all the accidents and incidents he had over the years and he had us laughing so hard it hurt. At the end he invited the whole audience, about 800 people, over to the pub for a pint. Awesome man, sadly missed.

[@mk1cortinatony395]

married 3 times want it?

[@ashleyclough9277]

@@mk1cortinatony395 3

[@erisi6204]

He had ex-miner friends help him out with the coal mine, but it was still an epic achievement for a garden.

[@petem6226]

@Eric Hurt Blaster Bates was my friend's grandad.

[@tooyoungtobeold8756]

@@erisi6204 Health Safety made him close it down.

[@mrblue193]

The film of him laddering a chimney after a five pint liquid lunch is epic.

[@baylessnow]

The good old days before Health and Safety took the fun (?) out of everything.

[@db4068]

I met him when I was a kid in Rochdale when he dropped dale mill chimney. Absolute character

[@sharperprospecting6980]

That there is a cracking shout

[@MaNNeRz91]

Absolutely makes me dizzy wAtching that! Pops down for his lunch and back up again 😆😆 he was an absolute legend of his time

[@chemicaljuice3078]

I remember that one, nothing but 100% respect and admiration for Fred

[@christopherwoolnough2160]

Fred said the mill Chimneys were erected with skill, toil and love by skilled tradesmen, He Demolished them by Fire, because he believed blowing them up was disrespectful of the majesty of the building and an insult to the builders and it should be demolished with respect ✊ R.I.P Fred

[@andrewashdown3541]

an ran his washing-machine off a steam engine ...

[@EmptyGlass99]

He wanted to give them one last draw with the fire he set at the bottom. He was man born out of time. Absolute legend.

[@CARPARKINTHESKY]

Fred was a steeplejack. His job was to repair chimneys in Bolton and surrounds. I remember seeing one of the early documentaries where he said that it was heartbreaking for him that he was demolishing chimneys that he had a hand in repairing just a few years previously. Top bloke, took pleasure in watching everything he did. Thanks Fred.

[@rudycarlson8245]

Agreed! I would’ve loved to meet him! He is an individual you would love to have a pint with! I would love to have meet him but unfortunately he passed away before I graduated high school in 05 and I believe he passed away in 04 imagine all the stories he had! I would’ve loved to hear them! Rest in peace Fred!

[@taxidude]

When I die, there are 2 people I am going to look for in the afterlife. Isambard Kingdom Brunnel and Fred Dibnah!

[@SuperIanjohnson]

No-one can ever appreciate just how much of a national hero and a national treasure that Fred was in England. R.I.P, Legend

[@timmorodgers4271]

My Mom actually cried when he died. Absolute legend.

[@SuperIanjohnson]

@@timmorodgers4271 ; He really was; there could never be another like him.

[@Lockwoodbeck61]

There's more to Fred than knocking chimney stacks over the man was a genius.

[@k.sjones9139]

Am I right in thinking there was talk of putting him on the £5 note a few years back?

[@grahambloodworth4770]

Fred was a British legend. A long lifetime of repairing chimneys, ironically then knocking them down. A superb draftsman, and steam engineer. Sadly missed.

[@dieselbushcraft1299]

An amazing gentleman that was hugely talented. He could explain complex engineering theories in ways that anyone could understand them. The world was a poorer place when he passed.

[@jen6879]

Had the pleasure of meeting him a while back. Lovely chap 👍🏻 Got his autograph at a steam rally and he had the most beautiful handwriting.

[@dieselbushcraft1299]

@@jen6879 depends what you call “a while back” as the poor man died in 2004.

[@Oh4Chrissake]

As someone who comes from the same neck of the woods as Fred, and watched this documentary when it was first broadcast in 1979, it's great to see someone from across the pond enjoying it all these years later. It warms the cockles of my heart.

[@ianwilkinson4602]

Fred would have been so proud and gobsmacked that his name and his exploits are known around the world, it brings a tear, such a great Englishman. Cheers.

[@Oh4Chrissake]

@@ianwilkinson4602 I agree, Ian. Best wishes.

[@danhudson4614]

It's sad we pay so much time and homage to people who passed when there are so many living who go unnoticed..until they too inevitably pass..and yet as a race we do not learn from our mistakes..

[@TonySpike]

Eye it does mine as well mate, bloody brilliant

[@georgedavidson957]

Fred Dibnah was required watching when this was first shown ... northern wit, black humour and so much testicular fortitude he needed a fucking wheelbarrow to carry them around.

[@Womberto]

True British hero Fred was, top bloke.

[@TheSmokinMunkee]

God bless him. A simple man from a bygone era. Not many left like him

[@denisoleary5302]

Nothing simple about Fred. A very talented man. Haave you seen his technical drawings?

[@TheSmokinMunkee]

@@denisoleary5302 you are misunderstanding my meaning of the word simple I feel. Simple, as in he did not feel the need to surround himself with “baubles and fancy frocks” he was a man of simple pleasures. No frills. Hence his fascination with early industrial machinery as there was “no faff” It had a job and did it well with little to no maintenance. I apologise if I sounded like I was describing his intellect as simple. Definitely not my intention

[@knowlesy3915]

He was a Victorian engineer born out of time.

[@pilgrim....]

I watched him doing this on TV when I was a kid , eventually the stacks ran out. He was an extremely talented man an engineer and artist. His drawing and calligraphy skills were stunning. I'm so pleased you showed this, it's brought back so many great memories. His loss was a national one,he probably did more in a couple of months than most people fit in a lifetime. Thank you so much for showing and reminding and introducing a national treasure to some who might be a bit younger and unaware of Fred and his talents.

[@npc3po301]

This is the England you don't see, the proud common man that works with his hands, I can see you identify with that, Do look Fred up, the more you learn the more you'll appreciate him

[@johnmcfadyen6341]

Bang on .my son also thinks he's a legend

[@lordomacron3719]

aye, I am also working-class scum and proud of it. ;)

[@mixerfistit5522]

I love that one where he's asked to lower the little island in a lake for birds and they're not allowed to use explosives. Fred gets in a little boat with a spade and starts digging by hand

[@Johnconno]

All dead now. Drugs. Booze. Hopelessness. Anomie.

[@sqche]

Exactly! Reminds me of my Dad and Grandfather. They don’t make men like this anymore.

[@Yewchoobarkontz]

Fred is a working class legend. There were thousands of chimneys in the North of England. As a young lad the whole of my class was taken out of school to watch a nearby chimney come down. Most of the mills are now sadly gone.

[@MrStabby19812]

Same up here in Scotland my city was covered in those tall stacks only 2 or 3 left now.

[@slayer9240]

Working class hero 💪 and fellow Northerner

[@kalicom2937]

Was a working class legend. Sadly no longer with us.

[@nickbenke3306]

The Victorian Engineers made his life difficult because their architecture was so well built! Lol.

[@nickbenke3306]

@@willnicholson18 The old mills are used as industrial units allowing small business to find cheap premises, replacing them with Hotels and Tower blocks that the locals can't afford to live in seems to be the current trend! These buildings are Our statues showing the Slavery of the Industrial Revolution and the appalling conditions workers as young as 6 worked in! You really want that hidden from future generations?

[@bon75y24]

What a legend, he owned steam engines, traction engines, built a mine in his back garden, to the local councils horror, He became a TV personality in later life made many series on history, engineering, railways etc. Rip Fred

[@davidjones332]

He also became a much admired after-dinner speaker -a real working-class hero.

[@Mrfort]

Also MBE. say no more?

[@stephenlamb7034]

he built a fucking mine?? i had just been watching the series on him on BBC4 earlier.. childhood legend!! and im a southerner!! ;)

[@Sandy-dd4le]

@@stephenlamb7034 yeah, iirc, he didn't bother with planning permission or anything. Legend!

[@vaudevillian7]

Great stuff, how to ladder a chimney is worth a watch too. He had a real love of engineering and did some great shows after he gave up the day job (mostly)

[@cazz124]

The laddering a chimney is definitely one to watch

[@MegaDibbler]

I totally agree, he's made many great videos over the years. But in our modern world of health and safety, that particular video is a real eye opener as to how things were once done.

[@justinsmith6296]

I dowt these anyone with the balls today that would or could do what this guy did, and he didnt think twice about it either, it was just in a days work for him.

[@stickemuppunkitsthefunlovi4733]

When Chuck Norris wants a chimney stack taking down, he calls Fred Dibnah.

[@8-bitsteve500]

Fred was a legend and a total hero of mine. The world is poorer without him.

[@billygingerguitars2791]

Oh yes, I'm glad someone suggested this for you. The man was a legend, I had the great pleasure of meeting him when I was a kid. Absolutely a top fella.

[@eldeano9964]

Check out John noakes: Nelsons' column. He climbs it to interview the cleaning crew, this was back in the 70s. No harness, no scaffolding, no crane, just a rope tied around his waist while wearing flares

[@melthebell33]

at least if he fell, he'd be able to fly using the flares

[@melthebell33]

@Kate Tyler maybe he fitted them in the flares too lol

[@LoneWolf-ot5ow]

Great request 👍🏻 that video still makes me feel uneasy 🤢

[@georgedavidson957]

Noakes was a god of tv. going down the cresta run leaving his body one huge bruise or the one with the sea cadets climbing the rigging ..... just insane.

[@eldeano9964]

That and Duncan dares. I wonder if health and safety will allow kick-start to make a return?

[@andrewlaw]

Fred has long since passed away but his spirit lives on in Guy Martin, another salt of the earth Brit who everyone loves. Truck mechanic by trade, TT rider, multiple world record holder, confirmed tea drinker, he does it all. Find the story where his Rolls Royce Merlin Spitfire engine went out of control! 😂

[@chrisjohnson4165]

You're right! Guy Martin is a modern day Fred Dibnah plus. The TT needs a special breed to even compete, let alone be at the front. You are only 1/1000 of a second away from death.

[@pauldean8638]

Yeah I give you that , all apart from Fred liked a pint and guy loves his brew ha ha most things in common , they liked to tinker

[@pilgrim....]

Only a jealous, bitter person would not respect Guy Martins talent and varied skills. In age he could be Freds grandson and I'm sure he'd be proud and happy for his success. But they're from different eras Guy's achieved fantastic goals but he is a commodity and much of what he has done has been funded by TV production budgets. I know Fred did a lot on TV but the media culture was very different,we weren't living in the age of celebratey then, the show seeming more fly on the wall in nature. Maybe I remember with bias, still credit where credit is due they're both extremely talented men .

[@ademyers2741]

Yes, when I first saw Guy Martin in the TT film, a man who's a cross between Fred Dibnah and Barry Sheen, it was obvious he would have TV career

[@SteveWalkey]

For sure, Brother. Thank God for eccentric Englishmen... 🇬🇧

[@qtube1980]

As a 64 year old Brit, for me Fred was a National treasure, sadly Freds type of craft & old people in general are forgotten for what they have done, I appreciate you showing respect for folks like Fred

[@davidcorbett1713]

He took his wife on honeymoon to Blackpool for a weekend and spent the whole weekend dismantling a chimney with her help. Fucking Legend

[@exsappermadman25055]

Pissing my pants!......Hahahahaha....."Pass us that 'chisel luv?".....

[@davidcorbett1713]

@@exsappermadman25055 it's TRUE mate he even admitted it with her on a TV documentary hahaha

[@exsappermadman25055]

@@davidcorbett1713 I believe you man!....That's why I was laughing so bad!....Going on a Dibnah quest on YT now....

[@davidcorbett1713]

@@exsappermadman25055 he was a character a Legend of his trade.climed ladders like he was walking on flat ground, fearless, Guts of steel.

[@exsappermadman25055]

@@davidcorbett1713 Yeap, and a guy you want to have a pint (10?) with...."You know why a GB bulldog has no top lip?..So it can still take in oxygen while not letting go"....Old Dibnah was that and then some!...

[@cudwieser3952]

Here's another Fred Video. He was a steeplejack by trade and turned that into demolition later on (similar skills required only you start at different ends). Here's Fred putting up a scaffold kzbin.info/www/bejne/bIjCaKh_ltWifsU

[@johnbloggs1750]

Fred was a dying breed of Northern men. He loved steam engines and appreciated architecture. Like most northern men, he liked a drink, and would climb to any height to do his job. Most jobs he would be considered drunk, but he still climbed up and got his job done. He was funny character, and is admired and missed by many people.

[@benjaminstrudwick7368]

"DID YOU LIKE THAT ?"🙂

[@Nynjasquirrel]

I met Fred once, the man was a complete gentleman, and his handwriting was pure copperplate, immaculate and precise. Look up his engineering drawings and you'll see what I mean.

[@davidsteven470]

He was still taking them down like this in the mid 90s, took the kids to watch one of his last in Great Lever, Bolton. Top bloke.

[@davidian7787]

This is actually quite a sad event. That big chimney that took blood and sweat to build. Fred, himself said that he was sad to take them down. Decent bloke.

[@mcfcguvnors]

he was feet away - thats confidence for ya

[@folkme3042]

I absolutely agree!He appreciated the blood,sweat and tears that went into building them in the first place.

[@BritishBeachcomber]

@Justin Credible If Fred hadn't taken those chimneys down the old way, a demolition company would have done it with explosives.

[@tubeorn0ttube]

That's why this was such an appropriate method to bring these storied structures down. In the end, after years of dormancy, in their last moments they breathe clouds of smoke just as they did before they became redundant.

[@tubeorn0ttube]

@Justin Credible these things were ubiquitous. I'm not sure you'd be pleased by a landscape in which they had all survived and certainly not by one in which they retained their original function.

[@markrichardson3421]

Good example of a Lancashire accent. I think he was from Bolton.

[@monkeytrumpet11]

Yeah he was a Bolton lad. Top bloke my dad always told me his brother, my uncle worked with him all the time. He died when I was very young though but I do remember meeting Fred a couple of times when I were a nipper. Reet northern bloke. You won't find anyone like him nowadays. Guy Martin is the modern day equivalent of proper northern bloke

[@travelling_stephen]

Bolton born and bred. And he would never say Bolton Greater Manchester. It was always Bolton Lancashire. True to his roots.

[@ianrushsmoustache2282]

Stephen Green totally agree 🌹

[@TaSwavo]

@@travelling_stephen They put a statue of him just off the main square in the town I remember (I lived there until 10 years ago).

[@w1gg5]

@@monkeytrumpet11 brings it back to the accents video, Preston and Chorley aren't that far away from Bolton, yet both have different accents to Fred's.

[@russcattell955i]

Dear old Fred, a man with hands like shoe leather, a man that belonged in the victorian age. He not only demolished mill chimney's he restored them, as a steeplejack by trade he maintained church & cathedral towers & steeples. But his passion was steam engines & power. He had a steam powered workshop & restored steam vehicles. He never got to visit a steam fair or museum in your U.S.. but if he did, i'd guarantee within a half hour he'd be in a boiler suit, with a big iron wrench & oil can in his hands. Explaining how British steam men cook bacon & eggs on the coal shovel in the burner.

[@Dashslapp]

I work as a bricki and on scaffolding alot. Watching Fred make my hairs stand and reminds alot of the old boys had loads of skills and not a ticket to their name. Blokes like this still existed when I started but don't see them now. Great people

[@stevenc5227]

Fred was old school and a legend, nobody like him anymore, he was working right up until the cancer got him, RIP Fred your one of a kind.

[@peterwetton2655]

Fred is an absolute northern UK legend god rest his soul, such a knowledgeable guy about everything engineering and working class.

[@thecure4470]

He was but we loved down in brum as well. RIP

[@n17whlronnie92]

As we southerners do too, a legend RIP Fred

[@hb9108]

Fred Dibnah is solely responsible for my interest and love of engineering, what a great personality as well!

[@hb9108]

Another interesting British engineer is Guy Martin. Loads of videos from building a spitfire to the worlds fastest tractor.

[@davidian7787]

My friend. Thank you for listening to your viewers suggestions. I seconded this as a view. Really loving your honest reactions. It makes my day a happier place. Bless you.

[@williamagar7160]

Fred Dibnah was a proper bloke, an enthusiastic and knowledgeable man regarding all things industrial and mechanical. He was a real working man.

[@bobito8997]

The crowd is unsurprising. This was the 1970s. No internet, no DVDs or even VHS, only three TV channels. If a bloody great chimney's coming down in your part of town why wouldn't you go and watch?

[@steveb1972]

I remember as a lad the whole family went with a picnic to see a chimney come down! There were hundreds of spectators.

[@jandmbaker]

@@steveb1972 kalinka

[@steveb1972]

@@jandmbaker huh????

[@karlg5806]

AND you knew the telly cameras were gonna be there too!

[@emdiar6588]

What ever crowd would show up today, would be standing there watching their phones as they filmed it.

[@kingyfpv4787]

Fred is a legend... have a look at his back garden... nothing this man couldn't do.... if I could do just a little of what Fred could do I would die a happy man...they just don't make real men like that anymore 😪

[@pd4165]

His house was on the market this time last year - I'm looking for a new place but it was a bit too much for me. Dammit.

[@kingyfpv4787]

@@pd4165 was the house sold with all left in place? And i hope you find what your looking for brother it took me over a year.

[@mcfcguvnors]

havent got one - ill make one ,olny person ive seen with technical capabilities like him is that Jessie james bloke from the states he has the same mindset ,ill build a tool i dont need shops

[@kingyfpv4787]

@@mcfcguvnors I agree my freind... my father was very much that way and showed me alot and now I have my 5 year old with me learning and enjoying every second. I think 🤔

[@myview5840]

My grandad was a friend of his, been to Fred's garden was I was about 8yr old

[@markrussen5616]

Fred always said when he climbed up a tall chimney that 1 mistake up here results in half a day out with the undertaker

[@jimgraves4197]

Fred is a Legend in the North of England, that was filmed in the early 70's I think. I know I was a kid when I first saw it on TV. He always gave a chimney a proper last smoke before it came down.

[@AtheistOrphan]

Early 80’s.

[@G7OEA]

I had the awesome pleasure of meeting Fred at a steam rally. He was a true gent and took the time to speak to everyone and to have a conversation with them about them.

[@mythbuster1437]

Fred was a superstar, a gentleman that never asked for respect, he was naturally respected. RIP Fred

[@G7OEA]

Fred Dibnah is a legend in the North West of England. Babies are born knowing his name. He was a true gent and would take the time to have a conversation with you and ask questions about you. There probably isn't a chimney in Lancashire that he hasn't hit a dog into. Sadly missed, I'm glad his life was so well documented. He had a gift of telling history through stories.

[@andrewashdown3541]

There's a better one - somewhere - where he has to run away as it falls shouting "It's gooin, it's gooin' and "Did ya like that?"

[@Mrfort]

Andrew I think it's the same one, or maybe with his wife lighting the fire?

[@andrewashdown3541]

@@Mrfort No - I suggest you do a quick Google or KZbin search - I just did

[@bobp6742]

@@Mrfort Think his wife lit most of the fires, bit of a tradition.

[@grantmcgowan8399]

Yes you are correct on that one.

[@postscript67]

That was the one in the first one-off documentary he featured in. He had an old bulb horn instead of a whistle. There is more of a crowd with this one because he had become famous by being on TV.

[@unitedkingdomoffiveeyes9765]

Fred was a hard man.... no health and safety in those days...

[@justaworkingbloke6537]

Health n safety? Just get the job done lad!!!

[@rokhnroll]

Health & Safety had a different name back then it was called common sense

[@slowerthinker]

He took a few steps back and blew on a whistle a few times. What more do you want?

[@abdool1972]

I love how the kids run up to him after the collapse like he's a Beatle.

[@shardovl586]

Thats because he changed the skyline of Bolton and removed the soot filled harmful chimneys, seeing them fall was seeing and end to a bleek past, full of pain and hardship and knowing that a new age was begining free from those arduous conditions that beset those of that went before

[@Obese1Kenobi]

it was a national day of mourning in England the day Fred died. A true man's man who had balls of steel! Unassuming and humble but one of the biggest characters to come out of Bolton. May he rest well.

[@kendon81]

Fred did a lot of shows for the BBC about steeplejacking and mansionry and steam power and engines and about the industrial revolution in the UK in the 18th and 19th century

[@maxwellportlock2119]

Fred Didnah (now passed on) was into Steam engines traction engines and repairing church spires, well worth finding more videos.(drops better chimneys too.)

[@whitecompany18]

Uncle Fred's documentaries on the industrial revolution are second to none.

[@madabbafan]

Agreed, far better than these so-called achademics who think they know everything

[@AerodeonThorne]

“How to climb a chimney overhang at 50+” separates the men from the mice.

[@richardturner9317]

eke, eke !

[@scottishsuzuki8132]

Thats one of favourite clips of all time

[@alangood8190]

I get dizzy turns walking on thick carpets.

[@CDLANEY1520]

I'll be a 'Mice' if you do not mind....(:-o)))

[@kenniththomas2167]

Fred Dibnah, was a truly remarkable steeple Jack, the likes of which we may never see again, He certainly new his craft, he had nerves of steel, and was a credit to the people of Bolton England, I used to wear a flat cap when working as a plumber and mechanical engineer, he was my hero. Fread was

[@kenniththomas2167]

This bloody laptops got a mind of its own 😂

[@fazfinisher5598]

Fred would have been as comfortable and successful in the victorian era, the guy is a legend and made engineering interesting and understanding for the masses.RIP fred.

[@chrism8325]

Raging inferno, huge brick structure coming down. Kids running everywhere... and two British Bobbys managing the whole show lol

[@highdownmartin]

No high vis hats goggles and massive fences. Great

[@5thtimeaccountdeleted.206]

Back when England was English. I wish I was dead to be honest

[@chrism8325]

@@5thtimeaccountdeleted.206 I hear you, mate. I'm a 50yo Englishman, and remember times like these. It's a shame, because with the right thinking people, and a change of mindset for the majority, we could come out of this current situation with a more positive and honourable society for all... Saying that, mate. If you look a bit deeper, and have the right attitude (Which I believe you may have), there is another way. Our cities are dying, and a more natural "Organic" way of life is out there. Checkout a site called Diggers and Dreamers. Might be of interest... Stay safe. Stay strong. Peace and Love, mate

[@markrichardson3421]

You should try the footage of him taking a chimney down brick by brick. Watching him go from the ladder to the platform scares me to death just watching it.

[@dp-sr1fd]

Mountaineers had nothing on Fred.

[@ThisWontEndWell]

And when he says he works better after drinking five pints in the pub at lunchtime!

[@robfinch3277]

Had to laugh. Pulls ladders up behind him, but when working on the top of the stack, he spends 15 mins climbing down for a thermos of coffee, sandwich and a ciggy, and lunch over climbs all the way back up... Why not pull up your lunch box, I would, but then you`d never get me 10 foot up that bloody stack. The mans a legend.

[@highdownmartin]

And even constructing the octagonal working platform. Banging in pins 150’ up and waving bloody scaff boards about. Fuck me!

[@stuartturner7672]

I honestly can’t recommend this man enough, an absolute engineering genius, if you wanna see some thing scary look up his steeplejack video, Spider-Man’s got nothing on him, by the way love your vids keep them coming

[@IFLDook]

The an is a national treasure. He received an MBE from the Queen. He drove to London on his steam engine and left it with soldiers next to Buckingham Palace.

[@Wadyface]

Fred is a legend. He became famous after a TV show did a program on him. And spawned a few tv series. Later in life he did documentary on the steam age, industrial revolution. He will always be missed.

[@MrDjbremix]

The late great Fred Dibnah ... Love that Guy.

[@sam._.buswell8181]

Fred was the type of bloke who is none other than a total legend. He brought down the chimneys with respect by letting them blow their last puff of smoke. Then they came back to the earth from whence they came with the almightiest of booms. Truly was a top bloke

[@icklebean0365]

Fred dibnah was an amazing man. All hail him. So sad people don’t don’t know who he is anymore. I talk about him sometimes at school but nobody has a clue who he is. I’ve rewatched his uk traction engine tour and he makes you feel like you a super start to preserve the industrial heritage which I do!

[@giteausuperstar]

Amazing how the kids are so excited to see him. What a hero.

[@dennisjeffs4239]

Fred passed away 17 years ago and was a top northern man, a genius engineer, whether it was pulling down chimneys, traction engine rallies or making something out of a piece of scrap steel, tv and his band of followers miss him. RIP Fred.

[@adctvuk5035]

Good old Fred loved his steam engine with his coal streaked face lol

[@andrewdrabble8939]

Fred was an absolute legend. Whenever he spoke to us on his programmes, you always felt you'd learned something

[@danhodson7187]

This guy was old school AF. I remember when I was about 8 he came to the complex of houses where I lived to bring down a stack on the brick works nearby. Thousands of people came to watch him at work, I could watch from our front lawn. RIP Fred!

[@PaulChapman1bz]

Bless every working human who goes to work, gets their hands filthy and doesn't know if they'll be going home at the end of the day

[@foolsjourney8118]

Fred was a national treasure here. He was a great ambassador of a bygone age, and I'm sure there'll never be another like him.

[@chrisaris8756]

Yes it was in the 1970s. His usual comment when a chimney came down was “Did you like that?”

[@sentinal2337]

He was a very humble man and loved by all, his beloved steam engine was his passion.

[@MARKSTRINGFELLOW1]

You've got to see one setting a scaffold at the top of the chimney on his own

[@gholmes182]

Fred Dibnah was much under-rated. His knowledge, passion, and extraordinary self taught ability to recreate the engineering triumphs of 17th and 18th century England mark him out as a true renaissance man.

[@dibblethwaite]

Under-rated? By whom?

[@gholmes182]

By those who didn’t value his knowledge or practical ability. I often felt that the BBC treated him as a curious eccentric rather than with the seriousness I felt that he deserved.

[@paulpilkington4994]

When this local hero died ill be honest I wept. Seeing those children run to him after the chimney came down just brought a few tears back. Thank you eclectic beard, kids don't admire hard working folk nowadays and to me this is just beautiful to see again.

[@theoforshaw2976]

he used to work with my grandad, my grandad used to own Forshaw demolition in bolton(westhoughton) where Fred is from!! you can see the Forshaw's name on the chimney at 16:49

[@normansidey5258]

Bolton. Near Manchester. Absolute diamond hard, and clever with it.

[@Johnconno]

@@normansidey5258 A dump. That's why it was demolished.

[@AdrianWilsonBridders1234]

He was also a regular at steam rally’s around the UK, especially The Great Dorset Steam Fair.

[@richardbourne6660]

I met him at Hampton steam rally by me in Cheshire and seen his old land-rover on display

[@jimbob5b200]

Please see Fred Dibnah " how to ladder a chimney Part 2 " I get Vertigo just watching it absolutely amazing you will be sick to your boots especially on the over hangs 😱😱🥶 please watch it !

[@taxidude]

Fred was loved by us all. A true super star! That's why we remember him!

[@jonathanbennetts2632]

In the day we only had 3 TV channels in the UK. So yes Fred was famous and would draw a crowed.

[@daveofyorkshire301]

This is back when the Police still did Policing...

[@wildphil64]

hear hear

[@BaronVonGreenback1882]

Everything on You Tube that has Fred in is well worth watching,

[@DVDFHardTarget]

Fred is a very special human being of a bygone age. Everyone in the UK loved the man.

[@pensans1]

Fred is a British hero

[@rickgreenhalgh1357]

Fred was a national treasure and a really important part of our history up north. He loved those chimneys.

[@Bad_Wulf]

Was fortunate enough to meet him at talk he was doing in yeovilton a few years before died. Truly lovely man, immense knowledge.

[@SalemikTUBE]

I remember him doing this. Never under estimate Fred. He was a superb and knowledgeable engineer and historian. He hated demolishing these chimneys because of the history they represented but they had to come down because they had become dangerous due to lack of maintenance. Most of them he knew well.

[@adammorris3082]

I once saw him driving his traction engine when he came over to Bradford](West Yorkshire),He visited a local boiler engineering Co as part of a series he was doing about the industrial revolution. He was a top bloke.RIP Fred.

[@5thtimeaccountdeleted.206]

Bradford is now a pàkï shithole. Country has gone to hell.

[@ScaleStreetGarage]

he was such a great bloke, i used to clean his traction engine as a kid and at the age of 15 i was supposed to go and work for him as an apprentice, unfortunately we moved 375 mailes away 7 weeks before school ended so that changed my career options

[@kyleboyes2221]

I’m 34 and I think Fred Dibna’s a bloody legend 👌🏻

[@DH-pq2ud]

He was so famous, everyone in the U.K. of a certain age knew who he was! Brilliant man.

[@connorleeduckworth8952]

I live 20 miles from Fred’s house - he was an utter gent and well known for his skill, knowledge and passion for his craft

[@chrisaris8756]

Fred was an absolute legend. He was fearless. Not sure if you have seen the parts of these videos where he is steeplejacking - putting scaffolding at the top of these huge chimneys. He also built and maintained his own steam engines. A true one off. Such a sad loss. Do check out the other videos of our Fred!! Especially his final tour around Lancashire in his traction engine just before he succumbed to prostate cancer.

[@MrWillt100]

I have watched most of his videos and he was one of the best and more. Very good entertainer with not a scared bone in his body when it came to heights. Also very generous with his time. Your right weakening one side off the chimney basically the same as putting a scarf in the side of a tree. He was right into the era of the steam engine.

[@billypower3349]

I met Fred Dibnah once - a very long time ago at a steam rally. At that time I found him to be a very humble and forthright working class bloke. The sadness of it was the missed opportunity of taking him for a few pints and listening to him properly.

[@Greg-ew1hz]

Fred was a legend, very clever man too, you should look into him, he'd fix steam engines n trains etc

[@JonsTunes]

It's bizarre now, but back in the 70's/80's he was like a football star.

[@JonsTunes]

@@Berry-fr5wj True true

[@romani835]

They do still show him in the day but I've forgot which channel he's on.

[@stubmandrel]

Fred looks at the growing crack. Blows his whistle and walks about 15 feet from a few hundred tones of masonry just before it collapses in a heap.

[@neilhutton4521]

I'm a tree surgeon working on ropes at height daily. Let me tell you Fred Dibnah takes the cake. My legs give way watching him scaffold a chimney or fix the ladders. Old school hard nut. Fred is a legend

[@pf8777]

Fred was one of Britain's greatest soul's, his life and story touched the hearts and minds of many. He is sorely missed. His life will continue on through all of the wonderful television series that covered his humble life as a steeplejack and later in life as a presenter of historical programs on TV. We love you and miss you Fred.💖