American Reacts to Fred Dibnah How to Erect a Chimney Scaffold

[@kristion1097]

Fred Dibnah would havve been the first man on the moon if there was enough ladders

[@martindunstan8043]

😂👍👍

[@MakoyUnggoy]

You're not wrong!

[@johnthomas7038]

But only if the rocket was steam-powered. He would have done the first spacewalk too to adjust the steam valves. No need for a safety line and he would have stopped for a cigarette half way through.

[@mikeyyoyo6464]

Love it 😂

[@Mr_krabz_mcfc]

😂 🤣

[@ianknealy2843]

This is quietly one of the best British programs ever made. Just Fred's voice, the wind, the klank of the boards and clack of the hammer. No dramatic music. Brilliant. I cried the day Fred died. RIP FRED.

[@stephensmith4480]

I loved the tour around England he did with Donald, on his steam engine and the guy was going through the trauma of having Cancer at the time. A truly amazing Man.

[@vic9352]

A national treasure my friend 👍

[@stephensmith4480]

@@vic9352 👌😊

[@tonypate9174]

Never got the wish to "just fall off,and bye bye once time is up" as once said ....don't know if that's a good thing or not...but.so sad to see him in pain near the end.

[@user-zt1er1uj6i]

It was the whole of Great Britain Scotland England and Wales.

[@SMX815]

He was a legend 👍

[@alexhorton3884]

Fred Dibnah is icon in the North of England! It's great to see him being appreciated still. Even over seas!

[@andyguy0610]

It always amazes me in these days of Gyms and the fitness craze that Fred who smoked and liked an ale or two, along with what was probably not the healthiest diet had the stamina to climb ladders to the top of these great chimneys and make it look easy. I had the pleasure and honour to meet Fred once, what a wonderful down to earth man he was. sadly not many of his kind left now. Rest In Peace Fred, you will NEVER be forgotten

[@damiano7612]

No muscle and a pot belly yet he must have been really fit to work like that! Doesn't make sense 😊

[@goose300183]

@@damiano7612 Yeah he didn't look fit or strong, but he had that wiry, real-world worker strength! Sinewy, efficient muscle built from doing the job. The way he was projecting those 16ft iron poles over to the other side of the chimney was one of the most impressive things to me. There's a lot of weight in those, and he just had it clamped under his arm by the last 2ft of it. These young lads with six packs and ripped muscles from the gym look good, but I question if a lot of them would be able to handle doing this job all day!

[@goose300183]

I wish I had met him when I was old enough to appreciate talking to him. My dad restores tractors and attends tractor and steam rallies. He met him a few times at those type of events, including one where he took me when I was a young lad. I vaguely remember him - but my dad made sure to watch his TV programme later that week and point out to me that he was the man we met!

[@jamiewulfyr4607]

I read a comment by someone who met Fred at a dinner and speech event after he'd retired. This person said that even though he didn't work any more Fred's handshake was the strongest he'd ever experienced. He said it was like shaking hands with a cast iron vice.

[@borntoclimb7116]

@@goose300183 remind me on the workers in India today

[@debbiebanister7111]

O boy Fred We loved you and really very gifted me and my family still watch him. Miss him. 😊.Thankyou.💜 for sharing.

[@srfurley]

I met Fred twice, the second time was after he retired from steeplejacking, and came to do a talk at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon. This was after his cancer had been diagnosed, and not long before the end. The previous time was probably some time in the ‘90s. You could see on television that the house was by a corner in the road, and he had mentioned the river and cemetery behind it. One day I was going to Manchester, so I looked at a map of Bolton, and decided that the house was probably on Radcliffe Road, so after I finished in Manchester I caught the train to Bolton to have a look. While I was outside the yard Fred came out with a pot of paint and a brush, and climbed a short ladder to paint something. A few minutes later he came down and saw me. He saw me, and came over to speak. He invited me into the yard to see his engines and machinery. He was just the same as he was on television.

[@davidsaunders1125]

A great tribute, to a great man. I did like that.

[@ironmantooltime]

You lucky barstool 😎

[@s0dfish110]

Amazing. You are so lucky to have met such a humble, honest legend. I had a tear reading this TBH. thank you.

[@MetaFootballTV]

I used to live in South Croydon. Performed Noah's Ark with John Fisher School at the Fairfield Halls. Hope all is well back home. 👍

[@borntoclimb7116]

Fred is a humle and great legend.

[@Squeezeboxdave]

That chimney is still there and still working, its for Bolton's waste power station. I had the honor of meeting Fred and his steam engines when I was a teen. A special man, one of a kind, they don't make 'em like that anymore.

[@derektaylor6389]

there is a u in honour

[@asef698]

@@derektaylor6389 not if you're American

[@EdekLay]

There no I in team, oh wait that's got nothing to do with it 🤔

[@leehenry5764]

Is that where he was from David Bolton? I'm from Royton sandwiched between Oldham and Rochdale, so not that far away.

[@Squeezeboxdave]

@@leehenry5764 Aye, Fred was from Bolton, there is a statue of him in Bolton town centre.

[@jodu626]

“You can work quite comfortably as if on the ground. “ no Fred no

[@Muckylittleme]

LOL exactly what I thought, "No Fred, YOU can work quite comfortably as if on the ground". Me? I'm literally feeling anxiety just watching you.

[@rmcguire7033]

I used to watch Fred when he was often on TV. What an amazing Professional. I suffer from Vertigo, and even watching him makes my heart pound in my chest We shall never see his like again. RIP Fred

[@sharperprospecting6980]

Did you notice at the point he siad that. How he wasn't tied to any of it 🤣

[@gruffydd1000]

@@rmcguire7033 Never say never.

[@gruffydd1000]

@@sharperprospecting6980 No

[@AnOldEnglishBloke]

Almost 30 years he worked on his traction engine. It was so heartwarming to see him get to realise his dream and take that steam powered traction engine out on the open roads. Fred would probably be screaming internally at today's instant gratification culture. The guy did a wild job for decades to have his dream come to fruition. Absolute legend in every respect. Sadly, my generation (I'm 45 now) was the last generation to be raised by people such as Fred. My father, all my uncles, grandfathers and great grandfathers worked in jobs like Fred or they spent half their lives underground in the coal mines.

[@tt__ooo__4613]

Really like the way you're so respectful to Fred Dibnah, a true legend who completely knew his stuff. So many "Reacts" videos from armchair experts are not. You're a breath of fresh air. Thank you.

[@jamesbparkin740]

Well said

[@kevinpierce3458]

I agree, Electric Beard is a good guy, I mean who could actually have anything against a legend like Fred Dibnah?

[@anonnona8099]

@@kevinpierce3458 His first wife.

[@kevinpierce3458]

@Carl Klinkenborg I’m also from the UK

[@borntoclimb7116]

oh yes

[@SMITHYSKONTIKI]

Thankyou for this video. My mum who I just lost was from Bolton your video brought a tear to a Lancashire lads eye xx

[@stephenturner6075]

Fred Dibnah is an absolute legend. I loved it when he was on TV climbing chimneys. You have to check out John Noakes climbing Nelson's Column in 1977. He was a children's TV presenter and scaled the monument wearing a jacket, flared trousers and ordinary shoes with no safety equipment whatsoever. Amazing courage from the man.

[@Burnersforvanlife]

Doctors orders. I can't watch Fred climbing stacks anymore, my arse chokes me to death.

[@AntonyThorburn]

i agree

[@cousindave1]

Damn good description. I was eating my lunch whilst watching this and my arse was chomping more than my mouth.

[@ianaddie7779]

Pric;ess haha, brillant description mate.

[@robertreid6977]

haha, get scared about fifteen foot above on anything like that, how on earth he managed it ill never know.

[@highpath4776]

There are two others to watch, really scary, the Overhang laddering to the ornamental chimney and how to prepare for a divorce settlement.

[@mattsmedley.onehandedgamin9029]

He was a real human being in the truest sense. When he was diagnosed with terminal cancer he made one last TV series with his best friend where they went on one last road trip in his steem engine and trailer.

[@davo241ify]

I remember watching him on television as a kid, he was proper old school, a true legend.

[@misterwibble6411]

Big round of applause to the cameraman who climbed up the chimney to film Fred!

[@glenjones6980]

Fred carried all the safety equipment he needed between his ears. The fact he did the job for so many years and survived is down to a lot more than luck. Never underestimate or forget the contribution Donald made either, he did a lot more than just pull on a bit of rope every now and then. There had to be real teamwork and understanding between them, out of earshot and barely visible at times.

[@unbearifiedbear1885]

There is no replacement for a good labourer

[@yodab.at1746]

Exactly. When you have to risk assess all the time, you don't get complacent and you stay sharp. Health and safety bullshit stops us thinking about what we're doing and makes the world a warm and fuzzy unfocused mess. I ride on two wheels. It keeps me sharp.

[@RiggySmalls]

Donald was a man of action not words.

[@borntoclimb7116]

So true

[@RobBCactive]

An old steeple jack had by definition a near perfect safety record.

[@matthewcook953]

So glad you are enjoying Fred. He is a national treasure. Did you notice when he was lashing the corner boards down he had no safety rope at all. Love your channel man. Keep the great content coming, top respect from the UK 🇬🇧

[@SteRobboTroublesome8]

I’ve met this guy loads of times in my younger days. Guy was a legend and had all the time in the world to have a chat. He used to be a member of a charity run museum near where I grew up. Helped him load a small steam engine onto a low loader one day too.

[@XoticCamel_]

"Fred Dibnah Climbing chimney over hang at 50+" his free climbing up the overhang is crazy skills... Please watch!!!!

[@sr71blackbirddr]

That one makes the butterflies in the stomach come alive

[@project9320]

Awesome that one!

[@XoticCamel_]

@@sr71blackbirddr couldn't agree more..

[@XoticCamel_]

@@project9320 I'll keep suggesting it till EB watches it🤞🏻

[@Mr69sideshow]

@@XoticCamel_ me too

[@paulcrombie9623]

Fred is a very respected, brave man in his day. I don't know how he done it, but my god he had what you call "BOTTLE ". He was a very brave man to do the work that he done, greatest respect to a man that does this kind of work! I miss his tv programs, as I know we well never get another Fred Dibnah again! He was a real man.

[@alabama1413]

This man is almost a ‘one off’ in terms of character, personality & sheer dedication to getting things right. His programmes as informative as they were, were great entertainment. Best wishes & thanks for reacting 👍

[@ohembers8676]

Always gives me sweaty palms watching Fred at work! Another you should watch is 'John Noakes Climbing Nelsons Column'. Noakes was a presenter on a kids tv show in the 1970s and the producers would send him off occasionally to do outside broadcasts ... one day that was to help clean Nelson's Column in London, so off John went, and we get another entry into the International Nerves of Steel award. Don't forget while watching ... he's a kids tv presenter.

[@michaelwray1034]

Brilliant comment i remember watching john noakes do that.. Unbelievable. 😉

[@ohembers8676]

@@michaelwray1034 and they made him go over the edge in a bosun's chair when he didn't know what he was doing!!

[@bazza5699]

if he could have took shep with him he would lol

[@j0hnf_uk]

I've watched this numerous times and have never failed to get sweaty palms as a result during some of the more perilous moments of him leaning over and going up and down the ladder.

[@andysmith2417]

Amazing how he just walks around the scaffolding with no safety lines attached....Great to see you reacting to some great British characters and tv programmes of the 60's,70's and 80's I was born in 1960 so I remember seeing these when they were first shown....keep up the Great work....👍👍

[@maxthecat4632]

By far the most impressive thing was that back in the victorian times when those chimneys were designed at built, they had the foresight to build them with such strength that they could support the gigantic weight of Fred's bollocks.

[@StephanieLærkeAndersen]

My grandad knew Fred very well. Fred was a brilliant structural and mechanical engineer. His use of common northern language gave him a likeable personality, and he was very switched on, very methodical and knew exactly what he was doing. Fred was probably the last of the real men that we used to have in this country. British men were a different breed back in those days. The British bulldog spirit.

[@ChrisReadUK]

Bulldog seems to be a PERFECT description. What a man!

[@ChrisReadUK]

I am still in awe of this man, and i am 50+

[@PillSharks]

A great man!

[@stoikes]

My dad spent a couple or three years working on the engines with Fred not so long ago! And me dads name is Fred an all. What was your Grandads name, will ask me dad if he might know him, hope so!

[@factorylad5071]

Nailed it. Literate , numerate DISCREET.

[@areyouserious3092]

Thanks for posting. Fred was fascinated with the Victorian way of doing things. His love of Victorian era engineering is well documented he loved nothing more than teaching people how things used to be done. But Fred was much more than just a steeple jack he was also a very very talented all round engineer and metal worker with a passion for steam engines. If anyone reading this is interested in Fred Dibnahs work just type his name in to KZbin and you will be confronted with thousands of hours of videos about this fascinating man.

[@EricH_1983]

Fred was from nextdoor Bolton from where I live (Wigan), my dad was a miner and knew him from the steam traction show days, Fred was a lovable character who always had a great story to tell! Bolton practically stood still in 2004 when Fred Passed away from cancer, his son Jack drove his last stream traction engine pulling his coffin through bolton, 1000s of people turned out to see him. RIP Fred. RIP Dad..

[@PillSharks]

My old dad was in this sort of work for a few years until my mother put a stop to it, the final straw was when he was working at Kingsnorth power station in Kent (650ft in height) and some men were injured and one killed... they were told that they would have a lift to access the top but when they arrived the lift had fallen near the bottom and men had been seriously injured. instead, they had to climb a ladder inside until they were about 100ft from the top were they had to climb out side and then up to the top holding on to just metal hoops in the wall... They set a staging up with a block and tackle to winch tools and materials up, Dad was an x british seaman so understood a bit about rigging and didn’t like it, he thought that by the time you drop 650ft x2 of wire up and down, just the weight of that would be too much! Anyway, unfortunately he was correct and the staging collapsed and killed a man on top the chimney, apparently the poor man had to be left up on top for a couple of days until they could work out how to get him down, Dad was told to leave the job and he never went back into that work again thankfully! Fred was a true British working class man, a hero...and what most don’t realise is that he’d probably be doing that with a few jars of a ale in his belly!

[@nineteen8486]

I did the same job around the same time just across the Pennines. Fred loved a pint and could spin a good yarn ....not for the faint-hearted

[@ChrisReadUK]

As someone who has also been a scaffolder... his strength to manipulate the pipes at that height “AMAZES ME!”

[@1223-k5r]

For sure...the fact that he doesn't seem to be using any pulleys of any kind to bring them up just makes it even more impressive. Just setting that up would be a big job to most people these days. For fred this was jus getting the ball rolling lol

[@ChrisReadUK]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHqXkIKJiJp5bc0

[@carloswheeldon2553]

Unfortunately Fred and others like him are gone, the world is a lesser place because of this! But he leaves behind him a legacy! And thankfully the legacy, knowledge and his loveable charm in the way he explains things will remain forever! You are a legend Fred Dibnah!! Long may your memory remain in the hearts of the British people.

[@DaveyL1954]

Fred was everybody's favourite uncle. I met him once in Doncaster England, and he was wonderful. Took the time to chat and seemed to be interested in what I had to say. Best of all, he was an engineer in mechanics and this technical drawings were hand done and beautifully Victorian perfection. It was a sad day when Fred passed on to the great Steam engine in the sky.

[@michaelairley2015]

I'm from England. I grew up watching Fred. Amazing fella.

[@ManxAndy]

I was hoping you would do this one.....watched it numerous times, still makes my stomach turn......👍🇮🇲

[@ian_i.o.m495]

He'd have done Pully cooling tower with one hand tied behind his back 😉

[@Stechamppn]

Fred is a English hero ...and rightly so... His TV work never gets boring ....his knowledge and his pride in his work is always great to watch ..he liked a smoke and a beer.. but seemed to be fit as a fiddle ..very strong guy for his size...a true gentleman who gave alot to people ...shared advice and brought alot of people happiness then and also now....Great to see Fred getting his recognition..cos he deserves it

[@christianbuczko1481]

Later in his TV career he did a few other series where he explains everything victorian from buildings to engineering.

[@ivanrowland6353]

Good stuff to watch 👍

[@dantheman4838]

He also did a documentary on medieval castles too, that was the first show I saw him on.

[@kevinpierce3458]

They were highly enjoyable and his enthusiasm and knowledge really shone through

[@mickb69]

Yeah, they were great, them.

[@Don_Pablo_]

I worked in a timber yard from when I was 14 and the highest church steeple in England was down the street we had the great pleasure of watching him fire up there and repair it in his early 60s. Proper man that bloke!

[@jackson24241000]

“Wind is the steeple jacks enemy” There’d be plenty of that from me up there, and shit running down my trousers at an ungodly speed.

[@neilhobson3624]

Ha Ha Ha 😀😀😀👍👍.

[@GSD-hd1yh]

Fred was one of those unusual success stories that occasionally happen with TV. The documentary that brought him to the nations attention was out of the ordinary for TV back then, and not a subject that you would think would garner much of an audience. However, his delivery of the material was so down to earth, and shaped by his tremendous depth of knowledge of the engineering principles involved that it endeared him to the TV audience, and was absolutely fascinating, both to watch and to listen to. It was so well received that future projects were filmed over a number of years. His technical drawings of things, such as a particularly elaborate roof joint, or whatever the subject of that program was, were of draughtsmanlike quality. In one series he travelled around visiting various engineering works that were still in production, examining and explaining how various items were made and what they were used for. It speaks volumes for his character that he became so well known, and so well loved by his viewers, just by being himself.

[@101steel4]

I remember watching this back in the day. Being terrified of heights I was leaning back into my chair, looking away. I still am 😂😂

[@geofo60]

What a legend our Fred was, we don’t make ‘em like that anymore. Thanks for sharing Alan 👍👍👍👍.

[@Charlie3vans]

I've seen this lots of times, I know before I watch it again your reaction is gonna be priceless.

[@esoxlucius2649]

The mother in law is from Bolton and knew Fred pretty well. He is and always be a national treasure this chap. Clever as hell and balls of steel, all settled with a good cup of tea. 👍💪 I watched him take down Sykes bleach works chimney in the 80's 300 yards away from my house in Edgeley Stockport Greater Manchester.

[@drdassler]

Another great choice. I've watched everything I could find on Fred. He's a legend. He gets such respect for things he takes in his stride. RIP 🕊

[@mufuliramark]

In the early 80s, I was a a scaffolder for 7 years and had many a job on the Forth road bridge where we worked under the rail track erecting platforms for the steel workers. We happily worked 160ft above the water without safety gear. H and S later kicked in and we had to wear an inertia reel safety line, which worked like a car seat belt, if you moved too fast it would lock. I had so many incidents of it pulling me back. You then had to climb all the way back through the Tube the long way round following the reel rather than just jump up top and walk. I felt far safer without the gear because you only had yourself to rely on. Respect to Fred Dibna who is a British Icon. RIP Freddy.

[@kinasc1575]

For any fellow Brits out there, BBC 4 at 7pm. Fred Dibnah's world of steam, steel and stone, repeated at around 2am. everyday. EB, glad you got round to this one, the scaffold does actually go round the chimney on four levels for the completed scaffold.

[@martindunstan8043]

Cheers for the information 👍👍

[@67lionsoflisbon37]

I remember watching this on TV at the time and his subsequent programmes. Fred Dibnah was a smart, brave, interesting and intelligent man. The fact that he laddered both sides of the chimney is astonishing. What an incredible work ethic the man possessed. God Rest him.

[@englishkernigit8294]

I'm always amazed that Fred managed to climb a ladder with his massive knackers hanging below him

[@blastproces]

Live quite near to Bolton well ten miles away in rossendale, and his chimney he built on his house he was brought up in still stands. Used to ride his steam roller all round the area . lots of chimneys in the area when I was a lad are gone and remember one being diamantled in Fred’s method with the platform, could of been him!

[@darrenkeech6691]

If you liked this you will love the video of fred climbing the over hang of a chimney ......more underware needed for that 1 , love your reactions btw

[@martindunstan8043]

I've seen that and I don't think there's enough underwear in the world 😂😂😮😮👍

[@johnbeck1978]

That one makes me sweat just watching it. Especially as he was getting well past his prime during that climb.

[@kmag7122]

It's the Indian mill chimney it's still up

[@nathangarland9453]

and he done it after a few pints to.

[@RichardCritten]

"...Probably have less accidents..." - I guess you would only have one!

[@AntonyThorburn]

hmmm

[@sterix]

Think I had an "accident" just from watching! :P

[@rayjennings3637]

@@sterix And an unexpected trip to the washing machine for me too!

[@johnthompson3462]

My knees were aching just listening to him talking LOL

[@bobhead6243]

Fred Dibnah ! what a legend this man was !

[@davidholmes5165]

An uncle of mine knew Fred well, Uncle Arnold worked in a breakers yard "Stones and Hutchinson" that dealt with a lot of obsolete machinery from the railway industry and Fred used to go there quite a lot hunting for bits and pieces for his various projects, and incidentally my Uncle actually appeared in an episode of this tv programme, i actually met him myself once when he was coming out of Weston Engineering, no doubt on the scrounge for similar stuff.

[@factorylad5071]

On the scrounge sounds good. Darn sarth they call it "ponsing".

[@guyarcher8510]

I thought the bosuns chair was a bit scary, but walking round the scaffolding with that wind blowing. One freak gust of wind!! I feel wobbly just watching.

[@TheLemonadedrinker]

You would only have one accident in a working life as a steeplejack. He was a heroic working figure.

[@dannyb1979]

The true Lancashire Legend - Fred Dibnah. Makes everyones feet sweat when he's swinging away up at those heights... Absolutely nerves of steel (and balls) 👍🏼😂

[@jamespasifull3424]

Fred was a really interesting, incredibly skilled man. I would love to have met him, just for a chinwag..........on the GROUND!!! 🤣

[@helenbailey8419]

Definately on the ground😂😂

[@johnatherton6300]

Met Fred at the Pickering steam rally years ago what a wonderful and down to earth man , he asked me what did i do for a living i said i was a fisherman he said bloody hell thats a dangerous job i just cracked up laughing.

[@alganhar1]

@@johnatherton6300 Never met him, but I do wonder, I am a scientific diver, Advanced Trimix, regularly work at below 100 metres. Not the safest job in the world. But watching him place those corner pieces, unroped, several hundred feet in the air, literally makes my arse clinch in terror! One thing is true in both though, with him, a several hundred feet fall is a trip to the undertakers, with me, if something happens several hundred feet down and I have to climb to surface and ignore deco... the end result will be the same.... Would be faster in a fall at least! Probably less painful as well.

[@cha0tr0pic]

@@johnatherton6300 THE GREATEST story ever ;) What a guy

[@user-vi6wf4gh9x]

Men like Dibnah built England, sadly they aren't to be found anymore! The absolute salt of the earth, as true a Lancastrian as was ever born. A giant in a flat cap. "Did ya like that?" 🌹

[@MakoyUnggoy]

Fred was one of the most down to earth blokes even though he spent half of his time up in the air!

[@cideryeti7957]

Fred is the English version of the Native American high iron workers that built the skyscrapers.

[@paulmcdonough1093]

fred is better mohawks had machines

[@philipm06]

I read that the story was that the Mohawks had no fear of heights - not true, this was the 1930s and they needed work.

[@factorylad5071]

They were in the same place but a different line of work. They were LANDING girders from a crane which is not the same thing but probably even more dangerous than what he did.

[@Cobalt-Jester]

There's a video showing him climbing an overhang... While he's doing it he's speaking out to the haters saying he should not be doing this this job if he has had a few pints in the pub before he goes up... Fred just turns around and says, "you go up that chimney without having a drink"... Pure class

[@markgibbins4143]

Great response 😂😂😂

[@stephentansley9949]

Gets top and say's " eeh ya could ride a bike round here" 😱

[@unclefester9857]

I lived in the next street to Fred and often on weekends took my young niece and nephew to his yard to see him working on his traction engine and he would talk to them for hours about the history of British industry and what he did and how he did his work and outside of being a steeplejack he was a history teacher and the kids loved it, it really was a good afternoon out and education at Fred,s.

[@nicksykes4575]

Hi Alan, you should check out the story of Harry "bare hands" Bates, who climbed the mast of the Battleship HMS Duke of York to repair the RADAR antenna. No big deal I can hear people say, what I left out was, it was night time 26th December 1943, in the Arctic Ocean and blowing a force 8 gale! Not only that, they were at the time in a gun fight with the German Battleship KMS Scharnhorst, which was why the RADAR needed repairing! I think if Fred had been there he would have been up there alongside Harry.

[@freckles1409]

My dad made watch that scary lol

[@matteoj226]

Damn son, I need to look that up!

[@nicksykes4575]

@@matteoj226 Can,t find anything on KZbin, but there is a page on him on Wikipedia. Full name Harold Raymond Kingston Bates.

[@Ianjowett1]

love the respect you show to a great man .

[@dantheman4838]

Your videos are actually therapeutic. Watching someone else reacting to Uncle Fred's antics in the exact same way I do, almost makes them easier to watch.

[@aardbei07]

imagine that they did that when the factory was still working doing repairs they could feel the heat coming of them

[@tSp289]

Fred's a legend. Once you've watched some more of him you might like to check out Guy Martin. He's got the same bluff working class way about him and complete disregard for his own safety. His main interest is in old machinery, new machinery and going very, very fast. You've probably already seena clip of him spectacularly binning it at the Isle of Man TT without realising it was him. He's the one who flew off through a hedge at 150mph.

[@sUASNews]

Guy Martin is a good call, perhaps the Pikes Peak one

[@sharperprospecting6980]

@@sUASNews nah not the pikes peak. Its a view of his arse all the way up. Its good though. I like the land speed bike record attempt. Crashes and calmly explains it.

[@stephenlines9431]

Have been a (UK) fan of Fred for many years, but your channel has really shown me how human he was - that he learned how to put ladders up and a scaffold around an industrrial chimney top from a (presumably) younger and technically cleverer guy and was humble enough to both learn from him, but also acknowledge him. I've read and watched plenty of stuff about this amazing guy, but never seen this side of him before. Thanks for adding meat to the bone!

[@aaarrrggghhhh]

Fred Dibnah should be on the next £50 note. He was an amazing man.

[@JD-eo7dr]

Agreed

[@PumaKing4Ever]

Love the intro. Good old Fred D, reminds me of watching TV with my dad as a boy and being fascinated 👍

[@spotsterjon74cu]

I remember in one of his programmes he said “ the only ladder he fell off was when he was painting his daughters bedroom, he was laid up for three weeks”

[@davidsaunders1125]

I visited a man, in a wheel chair, many years ago. He had been a North Sea Oil Rig worker. He had been working outside In raging storms and very risky conditions and remained totally fine. He was working, at home, on a small stepladder and fell, and broke his back.

[@OldSkoolBiker62]

Wow! This takes me back.. I haven't watched Fred since the 70's.. He was an amazing character a brilliant engineer too.. loved watching him work on the traction engines. I also loved his later programmes on the Victorian industry period.

[@Oldlard]

Does anyone else feel faintly nauseous watching this. Like I can feel the fear as if I'm sat there on that bit of wood.

[@timsimpson9367]

I remember all of the steam powered gear he had round the back of his house & when he tried to fire a line with a bow & arrow & it bounced back & nearly hit him. Brilliant bloke.

[@ChrisReadUK]

I have been watching his films since i was a child... I truly believe that he is partly to blame for me working with my hands for 40 years!

[@AntonyThorburn]

you must be a good man.

[@ChrisReadUK]

@@AntonyThorburn i can only try my friend!

[@ChrisReadUK]

If you think about it... this is a true look at the Victorian age and the Industrial Revolution. He was the last of the “true historians!”

[@ChrisReadUK]

If you look at the content that Mr Dibnah has on youtube... Every film you watch will Educate, enthuse, and “most importantly, invite you into his world as an EQUAL!”

[@helenbailey8419]

Never bored,kept fit mentally and physically

[@montyzumazoom1337]

Sweaty palms just watching this...! Always incredible to watch the master at work.

[@jprobert7360]

There is a video of Fred taking down a chimney the same size as that a brick at a time only using a hammer and chisel.

[@jennymckinnon9528]

Fred was a genuine legend of UK television.

[@T5volvosmidgey82]

He definetely had a lot of luck on his life, very old school with lots of experience, that wind is crazy, he is a very talented and strong guy, balls of steel that guy

[@RaphaelDawkinsCombatRadio]

He was a regular on British TV back in the day. Very down to earth, balls of steel.

[@brixtonsaint]

It’s the lack of him being tied to anything that brings on my vertigo

[@markgibbins4143]

Exactly. I spent my whole time watching this puffing out my cheeks

[@MeFreeBee]

My fave Dibnah clip is of him felling a chimney with burning wooden props rather than explosives, from the original 1979 TV documentary. His reaction at the end is what set him on the road to folk hero status.

[@jackchisnall9316]

If you want to see how respected he was watch the video of his funeral

[@wjkitching]

That's one hell of a commute to work. All that work just to get set up to do the job. His knowledge and willingness to learn made him very special, and so modest, thought nothing of his trade just hard graft as he would put it. Some of his shows are still being shown on BBC4 at the moment, takes you back to a time before social media and the me me me attitude. I am sure Fred would have plenty to say about todays world.

[@Deadmau5l]

Deffo the hardest part of this job is knocking mortar out with a 3kg head all day long, Man must of had arms of steel. Legend over here in the North of Uk Mr Dibnah.

[@manticore4952]

I had to do this a few times for months at a time, awful work, no idea how he did it for so long.

[@THC-TheHereticalcomplainer]

Balls of steel. Good old Fred

[@nobodymanjustme2402]

Fred was a real man even when he was dieing from cancer you never heard him complain what I’ve been told respect to this man 🙏🙏🙏

[@gilgammesh1]

I remember working as a pipe-fitter on site, and was asked to climb this super high compressed tank of some kind of gas and install a valve. As soon as i reached the top of that it took every bit of courage i had to do that job and climb back down. Hated heights ever since.

[@jumbo4billion]

I know that feeling: did a week's work on the county's tallest grain silos, it was a different climate at the top. Haven't climbed higher than a step ladder in 20 years since.

[@plotment9098]

I remember watching Fred blow up a chimney as a kid and he was telling the kids the mortar ration mix

[@garyclarke1086]

Tea filled eyes as I read the comments... I miss Fred and always will. God bless mate X

[@tonywilkinson6895]

Thanks for keeping Fred's legacy alive Alan.👍

[@stephenharris3895]

Fred a great man sadly missed loved watching him

[@andrewclayton4181]

met him a couple of times at steam engine shows. Quite a character. WatchING him working on the chimneys makes you giddy though.

[@paulus842000]

People said that he had balls of steel, no he had balls of tungsten, this man was a legend and still is. ❤️

[@petermizon4344]

There is one vid where he builds the overhang at top, that is scary

[@neilchetwood4625]

Much more than a’National Treasure ‘ 🇬🇧 we’ll never see his like again.