FRED episode 2 - a vision of heaven - Fred Dibnah

The second of seven episodes from 1982 exploring the fascinating world of Fred Dibnah

[@snarkywisecrack]

I almost didn't find this great show. I saw a smokestack fall on the excavator knocking it down in one of those Idiots at Work videos. One of the comments said "Fred Dibnah would never have done that!" I got curious and searched him out. Now I'm hooked.

[@gauge6513]

@snarkywisecrack same I forgotten about this but had seen it 45 years ago on BBC. Saw a video of a silo falling the wrong way here.

[@snack4458]

Lovely idea of heaven. No fighting, nobody hungry and be left to work on steam engines forever. Hope he got what he was looking for.

[@PAULLONDEN]

Steam engines are a bit too heavy for up in the clouds......☝🏻👼🏻

[@seanjoys7360]

PaulLonden what do you think makes those clouds?

[@jayjay178]

Sean JOys aluminium alloys

[@madyottoyotto3055]

@@jayjay178 yes the spraying of heavy metals that's why there's been clouds for millions of years

[@dylanbenedict3599]

I realize it's kinda off topic but do anyone know a good site to watch newly released series online ?

[@123TauruZ321]

I'll tell you what i like about these videos: The film cameras are standing still, there are more than 20 second dialogues, it's not rushing from one scene to another in 1-2 second clips like todays editing is like. You can actually watch this without getting a seizure.

[@123TauruZ321]

@Randy Bingham Good points too. Sounds volume is steady and consistent.

[@dirkhalo]

Precisely!! You can take in the atmosfhere better times for sure.

[@THEOCKANDCHESTER]

😂

[@pennypink3759]

Yeah it's annoying and mental videos that go so fast 🙄

[@thetruth1862]

Fred is way way up there now , looking down on us with our phones and plastic junk , and saying to himself " I am glad I'm up here mate , with all these streets of gold and beautiful architecture 😊

[@gazza1136]

Loved Fred. A truly genuine man. More of a national treasure than the royal family. Rip Sir.

[@davidbradshaw659]

Yes, I agree!

[@SunnyvaleTrailerParkSupervisor]

Exactly

[@madyottoyotto3055]

Here Here 😊

[@huscroftflooring8192]

Spot on

[@johnfrancis2215]

Much more

[@FullFrontalInvestigations]

I’ll take Fred’s heaven ❤it sounds like a wonderful place to be❤

[@gussetblaster6786]

"It's like half a day out with the undertaker". He loves dropping that line does Fred!

[@madyottoyotto3055]

Can't blame him it's gold

[@yodab.at1746]

Yeah, and the arrangement he had with said undertaker was that he wouldn't pay for the mornings work. So undertaker did other people while our hero got to live another day.. RIP Fred Dibnah

[@sassythesasquatch1571]

Aye indeed he does

[@adammclaughlin845]

I did the Fred Dibnah tour while it was still running and had tea in Fred's house. I was alone in his house for five minutes at the end of the tour. I raised a cup of tea to the great man's memory.

[@nathaniliescu4597]

You utter Ponce.

[@adamw9421]

Had his house changed much in the time between his passing and your visit?

[@2.7petabytes]

I do work for my city similar to some of the work he does. I’m frequently at great heights and am in precarious positions, but the fact he does his work with just him and one other guy is AMAZING! Hats off to Fred Dibnah! I concur that being up high and doing manual labor is something almost spiritual and peaceful! It’s a shame that so many people look down on hard manual labor. That kind of work is important and can be quite fulfilling!

[@dissonantdreams]

I could never do what you (and Fred) do as I’m terrified of heights, but the views from the top look incredible. I can see why you would describe it as peaceful up there.

[@Eleventhearlofmars]

I bet you’re more health and safety conscious than Fred ever was though?!

[@ABSF49]

Without hard manual labor our world as it Is today wouldn't exist

[@borntoclimb7116]

This is true sad, the most dont care about this work or all the injury or death guys in the past, they are forgotten...

[@chris77777777ify]

You don’t climb 200ft brick chimneys with just wooden ladders, bits of rope & iron stakes. Don’t even compare yourself to Fred. Fred is a legend. The BBC thought his work was outstanding & decided to show the world who Fred was. Don’t compare yourself to Fred, how vain of you. Can’t believe you got all those thumbs up. There will NEVER be another Fred dibner

[@haroldpearson6025]

At least in the "bad old days" if a person showed aptitude and interest they could get on. Companies such as M&S would recrute managerial staff from the shop floor. These days a degree is a must. I'm 78 having completed a tool making apprenticeship in the 50/60s along with a City and Guilds certificate. It's assumed that having a degree means a person is smart as well as clever when in fact being clever and having a degree does not necessarily mean that person is also smart or very intelligent.

[@dissonantdreams]

Yes! And it goes the other way too - just because someone didn’t go to uni, doesn’t mean they’re thick. I left school at 16 because I needed to work and earn money. By the time I was 21 I had worked my way up the ranks and was the only non-graduate in my office. Just because university is pushed on young people as the only route to a good life doesn’t make it true.

[@TheStevenWhiting]

Number of years in a role doesn't mean much either I feel. The amount people saying "Do you know how long I've been doing this? Before you were born" I've known several people over the years who've been in roles for years but were shit for years and just got away with being shit.

[@classicartfoundation639]

University graduates think they're superior to everyone else and have zero inter-personal skills

[@jackcro8825]

Harold Pearson sorry can ask did your City & Guilds help you on life I have my City & Guild in Motor Vehicle Mechanics early 70’s.

[@jackcro8825]

Harold Pearson when you have job vacancy and several applicants who are suitable for the position you will find the manager taking the person with a degree first before anyone else so if he chooses the wrong person he’s able to cover himself by saying the guy had a degree.

[@basitmiah2179]

I’m from Bangladesh, live in London age 37 came to uk 1990 when I was 4 but watching Fred story , I respect him from my heart and ask god to bless him , he is a real hard worker . Not like them crooks nowadays. we all should learn from his life. R.I.P. Fred Dibnah

[@roymcneil6026]

Fred was a gent! He worked hard and loved his steam engine. ❤

[@tommyhassan3545]

@@roymcneil6026 proper man’s man was our Fred the way men used to be not like the clowns around today

[@DavidCalzetti]

Go back to Bangladesh

[@stephenrice4554]

Good on you sir .

[@terjehuse8562]

Discovered Fred Dibnah by sheer luck! What a wonderful person he seemed to be! I sure hope Fred found Heaven just as he hoped it would be, with plenty of old steam-engines for him to mend throughout Eternity!

[@madyottoyotto3055]

You can't ever beat Fred but some come close check out Blaster bates the naming of knickers brook He's the Fred of the blasting world but salt of the earth kinda fella And 50% comic Very funny man This explains how oulton park race track named one of its corners and why when this story can out the BBC stopped using its name and moves there broadcasting tower to another bend

[@danielmehlhopt8165]

I'm absorbed in these films of Fred Dibnah. What a legend.

[@LUDT55]

"they lived on other peoples' misery" what an astute remark from an enlightened person

[@dontlookspins]

@@wadewilson6628 Oh blessed are the job providers for graciously allowing those lowly plebeians to perform all the productive labour that generates their income.

[@wleon4068]

He's absolutely right about Victorian engineering and architecture. Back then things were made and built to LAST!

[@yodab.at1746]

Yeah, because it took so much effort to make, it was made to last. Now most things are effortless to make, so are cheap and valueless. (Caveat, sweatshop clothing manufacturing where hard labour is valueless)

[@Kwaj]

24:52 "It could very easily turn, like, a wedding into a funeral." The Brits have the BEST sense of humor. As an American, I confess our humor is nowhere near as witty or sharp. RIP Mr. Dibnah. Enjoy that endless lot of broken steam engines. 🚂

[@shalsenburgerwhatsinaname1036]

What gets me is Fred's respect for past generations doing it harder!!. As if he had it easy. Absolute respect. I'll keep watching. Gen x here

[@georgel74]

Whoever got the idea to film him was ingenious, he's a one off..you got to love Fred, his own man..

[@deanmartin380]

"Give us a bit of slack, Donald", just let's go of the rope 25:06 . I love Fred.

[@cpmiller1965]

A recent finder of these gems into a mans passions and livelihood. When you watch these shows and see Fred in his prime, it’s a reality check of our mortality. He’s so alive in this clip and all of what makes him Fred. Seeing the shows after his first divorce, he seems like a different man, older yes but lost a bit of the drive and passion. Of course his newer produced and polished shows are just a ghost of who he was. Such great content her, fantastic guy.

[@chrisevans5259]

Proper telly back in the day,...you can give me these old gritty tv shows everyday of the week, and Fred was a proper character,

[@FlowKio]

This man is the definition of “top bloke”

[@Sam-cz2bz]

Fred speaks so much logic and sense. And he is practically self taught, that says it all.

[@alnbaba]

He's so right my great grand pa worked at the docks and they drank quarts of beer during the day to dull the pain. He had to work into his early 80's at the gate, no old age pension back then just the poor house. During the war they'd shape plate steel for the ships with sledge hammers and hot rivet it all together 6 1/2 days a week 12 hour days.

[@march11stoneytony]

Perhaps the most interesting person I have seen in a while.

[@geoffm9944]

Fred was an amazing steeplejack! The skills needed as well as stamina and courage is phenomenal!

[@JBE]

These videos are my happy place. Being from Lancashire myself I'm still impressed by accents around here!

[@yodab.at1746]

From my experience, it's not just the accent (which I love) but the way people from Lancashire/Bolton/- the North generally- engage in conversation. Very straight talking and friendly.

[@JBE]

@Yoda B.at1 We tell it how it is without trying to confuse anyone. Hard working, immensely intelligent and very unappreciated. Proud without arrogance and always ready to help the rest of the country.

[@Spetsnazty]

I’m surprised how how similar a drunk American logger, or factory worker sounds to Fred. Obv not exact. But more similar than white collar Brit’s and Americans.

[@zoiksandmorezoiks2719]

A wise and skilful lad was Fred Dibnah. The original steam punk. If your born after year 2000 and you’ve found Fred Dibnah..well done 👍here is a real working class superhero of the likes that built all around you. Bless ya Fred spot on bloke.

[@chrisjones3901]

We were blessed to be able to see a character like fred,made in Britain.never bored to watch his programmes

[@SquillyMon]

Its always cool to see old scrap yards... Heartbreaking to see such fine machines just discarded like this, people really don't appreciate anything anymore.

[@captnodge]

Hardley any decent scrap about like there was then

[@hillbilly9804]

Watching in America for the second time. I saw these a few years ago and now going through them once again. Love watching him work. Amazing fellow.

[@treywiggins687]

I just landed here, never heard of Fred Dibnah until today, and still trying to figure out what the hell this show is about...that said, the opening scene is crazy, and nothing beats dry British humor - I also appreciate a good old fashioned quality work ethic. So far this seems like a wry British urban version of Alone In The Wilderness - both shows are perfect examples of the Greek concept of "Arete"

[@bswihart1]

Fred is absolutely right about people 100 years ago, life was thoroughly tough.

[@high1voltage1rules]

God bless him. What a great man he was. Sadly missed 🙏🏻😇

[@anth7354]

A time when the BBC made some great programs,not like now

[@TarmanTheChampion]

They still film some entertaining shows! Maybe not as good as the old originals but definitely not trash. They have been focusing alot on nature documentaries tho...

[@discopete1499]

The days that a tv licence was worth the money

[@i.george2321]

now they make tory propaganda

[@MrDasmaster]

@@TarmanTheChampion It is just Social justice crap now!

[@Jon-LFC-163]

Yeah I pay tv license and don't even watch the fooking tele😖

[@hyme278]

Fred is a gem.

[@julesviolin]

No one has mentioned how brave the cameraman was to get those top shots !!

[@AcornElectron]

A proper Northern bloke. Gets the job done, right, eventually 😊 Really miss this type of no nonsense approach to work.

[@AlanThomas-g7b]

I burst in to tears when I hear this man talk he is the earth and everything good about humanity and absolutely nothing about the worse of mankind,we are what we are and he hid nothing ,God bless you Fred and thankyou.

[@Just1Spark]

Give it up for the great camera work also. At the top of the chimney in the morning, even before Fred.

[@jcliffe8146]

I have just discovered Fred all I can say is WoW just WoW

[@oljefri]

I love watching these videos every chance i get when having a drink in front of the computer,haha

[@billiesrus]

World of Warcraft?

[@alasdairvincent6248]

There will never be another man like Fred. A down to earth working man, who was very skilled in the work he did. A very knowledgable and entertaining man too. RIP.

[@D.Cooper420]

A moment of gratitude not only for Fred but for the thing that saved Freds life on many occasions, cannabis!

[@CT5555_]

When he first said "weathercock" I actually had no idea what he was talking about. I would have never thought about the physics involved in properly designing something to indicate wind direction at the top of such a tall spider. The world was better with slide rulers, rather than CNC routers.

[@gcfcos]

Wow I’ve finally found something of Fred’s I’ve never watched, thanks for posting these up

[@mlwmlw3031]

Am in my early 30s and I absolutely love this videos. Fred Dibnah what a guy. He just comes across as a hard working man that absolutely nothing bothered him.

[@cr500kev8]

Did you like that ! What a top chap. No one around like him anymore. Welcome to broken Britain Never met the bloke wish I would of though. Will go visit his grave with bunch of flowers and pay my respect.

[@martinsmith1538]

Never copied. Brilliant man and working class as they come. Sadly missed. Thanks for the memories Fred.

[@Tmuk2]

Good old Fred, a man after my own heart. I remember getting his autobiography out of the library when I was 12! Walked past his old house without realising it a year or so back. Great to see these older series as I was only a baby when they originally aired.

[@huscroftflooring8192]

His rant from 12:00 is absolutely fantastic! RIP Fred, legend!

[@DAVE-J-B]

My old Painter and Decorator boss use to say “ it’s not the falling that hurts, it’s the landing” when I use to say what if I fall..🤣🤣🤣

[@martinbyrne6643]

The sudden stop 🥸

[@theculturedthug6609]

Was one in a million was our Fred.

[@TrumpForKing]

This remarkable man had such admiration for the common man workers who came before him and their handmade machinery and construction. So much that he honored them by using hand tools and steam tools to do his projects. He took down factory chimneys by hand as they were built and marveled at the craftsmanship shown in their construction. Fred’s life was a living tribute to the past. Ironically after doing such dangerous work it was the cigarettes that killed him way too soon. Rest In Peace Fred. You are a great and patriotic Brit and we honor you in America by enjoying your videos to this day.

[@Mpayne1472]

No they didn’t. He had bladder cancer

[@n00bJesus]

'break a few fancy bits off me, i'd imagine *laugh*' So nonchalant, i love it

[@THEOCKANDCHESTER]

These are fantastic therapy... Sitting in the evening, in me van, in me woods, tucked up in bed, ridding myself of the days stress and bother... All that Rioting on the streets and People screaming at the top of lungs complete jibberish... Put on an episode of fred's and its like a steam vent casually decompressing and calming you. He has such a wonderful humour and way of speaking... I used to watch these on VHS as a child because my granddad adored him. I laugh now because i understand so much that's going on... his poor neighbours 😂.. Alison the steam roller is so loud in that workshop... and when he engages that hammer you can't help but chuckle... its so dark the camera can barely make him out 😂.. and that oily hat! Imagine sitting in bed with that 😂 i love it 😂

[@L774eod]

Anyone that's claimed a ladder like that will understand how much work it puts on your upper body, and Fred was doing it multiple times a day all year round.

[@JAY61ish]

If i fall.. It's like that's the end of me.. And half a day out with the undertaker.. Priceless....

[@John-fw2bp]

WOW Fantastic ❤

[@MikeCCO]

I find, watching Fred's Videos very calming.

[@redshift3345]

Life really was almost impossibly difficult even in the early 1900s, for the vast majority of the population. We really are very fortunate, the irony being; we have it "so easy" it's empty, unfulfilling and ultimately depressing. The 1990s were the "pinnacle" of the modern-era, now this world is under Judgement.

[@patmlaftr959]

Genius of a man

[@64roo]

What a legend!...I must say I have known a few blokes like Fred over the years - but none come close to the scale of Freds work!....the likes of which we'll never see again....Tops Top Totter!

[@chrisnewby5713]

What an amazing story teller. Couldn’t just tell you he riveted the fire box, you get the ENTIRE story. Amazing

[@Cafferssss]

Loved watching Fred on telly as a kid. Re runs of this series and then the other series, age of steam, made in Britain etc. What a wonderful human being.

[@RandomCityBlues]

Amazing guy. It doesn't matter what he talks about, it's always interesting. Love his accent as well.

[@stephenmartin2737]

Can't get enough of this man just love his simple approach to life and nothing seems to phase him!!!

[@wasntme3269]

Thank you fred 🌻 you give us the feel good factor 🤝

[@mmmmark11111]

I will always remember Fred absolute legend and one of a kind. Loving rewatching these films. Rest in peace Fred

[@keithweatherman8690]

Hope you found your heaven fred.....

[@marcsmallwheel]

The scene at the church was like 2 Victorian steeple jacks jumping forward in time! Brilliant

[@russellhamer8690]

Thankyou for posting this series.. A National Treasure who is sorely missed,our Fred..liked n subscribed

[@Roscoe.P.Coldchain]

Just spit my tea out when he said the wife would end up with two rings 😂

[@Eleventhearlofmars]

Most wives have two rings, and a gob lol.

[@SistorCarrera]

the cranes that did the filming omg....ty

[@BillJohnson-rd4ef]

A absolute legend RIP Fred 🙏

[@HarveyJohnWillmott]

It makes me want to cry knowing he and that world no longer exist.

[@tensevo]

I'm sorry but this should be required viewing in today's schools. What an education.

[@themightyspoon9641]

Great show really good watch

[@mattgosling2657]

I'm not from the same county as Fred but I'm still a northerner, I can remember there being big chimneys about when I was a kid at different Mills and factories. In my area there used to be a lot of Mills that made carpet yarns, yeah it's definitely changed a lot since I was a kid, I can't think where there would be a single chimney these.

[@JETJOOBOY]

Engines like this need reviving.. They can Power a Workshop and it's Tools. Create Electricity PUMP water Heat your Home. Transport themselves a AND a Mobile Home for Miles and Miles.

[@stav2603]

Fred was ridiculously smart. Unbelievable self taught Engineer. You would back him vs a degree any day!

[@mattdrake2065]

100% agree with you mate. Unfortunately a lot of the “higher-ups” who do the “hiring” at most large companies (who, more often than not, tend to pay better) would 100% disagree with us…

[@snarkywisecrack]

If he were in Junkyard Wars, his team would win every time.

[@paultaylor387]

Nice one for uploading these 👍🏻

[@ErniePantuso]

What a wonderful soul he was.

[@paulwalker1793]

I hope fred has found he's little piece of heaven.

[@oddities-whatnot]

Its the fact he just climbs up without any worries that amazes me.

[@aka-bibby6662]

His work was in the air but his passion was stuck to the floor

[@jaydonbooth4042]

Man, he said it took 3 days to make that weathervane. With the waterjet cutter my dad has at his metalwork shop we could cut that thing out perfectly accurately in like 10 mins. So much labor spent on things like that back in the day that now we have amazing machines to do so much faster and more efficiently, with the same quality. We've certainly come a long ways since the days that they first put these chimneys up with the steam engines that Fred loved so much. Hopefully someday this kind of progress will lead to that "plenty for everybody" heaven on Earth.

[@user-ko3tv7jl2r]

We've lost so much as a nation.

[@Rfflllss]

First time i saw fred i thought yeah that’s crazy but the real crazy person is whoever puts the ladders in place… then i saw the video of fred doing that too. Wow

[@KlineDeere]

Starting at 11:58 I was cut from this man's cloth Hope to meet you up there someday Fred.

[@ruthbees7214]

Would have given my left arm to live next door to fred. In 1979 i was 15 first saw him on telly glad i went to his house before it was all sold off. Met alf and leon great day. Photo with alf lovely man. His brickwork on his mine was stunning. Could not see the joint where he stopped and moved the bricking ring.😁❤

[@joshwright9202]

Fred Dibnah was a different sort of man from a bygone era which sadly is quickly disappearing. He makes me think of my own grandfather... I'd like to think he's up there now mending all of the Lords steam engines and chimney stacks.

[@djc4509]

25:06 Unintentional comedy gold

[@dazburnside7340]

DJ C I’m literally crying 😭

[@retrorambles517]

Woof

[@mathewgreen4099]

Great stuff this, especially when he talks about his cap. Thanks for posting.

[@kierancurtis8545]

I feel exactly the same about my flat cap! I'm a Car Mechanic, so my cap is also oily :)

[@dissonantdreams]

As a Northerner I’m glad there are still (non-hipster) guys who wear flat caps 😉

[@kierancurtis8545]

@karma comedian You wear them on your head?

[@staffieloco8114]

Donald is the perfect side kick a man off very few words

[@schue77]

Absolute Legend,

[@steviemac9055]

Thanks for posting, and good luck to your football team. Peter Reid and Sam Allardyce would have been doing the business for you when Fred was knocking those chimneys down.

[@SavvasPapasavva]

Does anyone know which hills the church was? I'm curious to have a look on google maps and see if the weathervane it's still there.

[@joefraser5208]

There’s a video on a channel called Mr H hot pot showing where it is. The weathervane is still there

[@keithpilkington4682]

Its in Belmont in Bolton bear a pub called the Black dog

[@madyottoyotto3055]

@@keithpilkington4682 it might be called blue sheep 🐑🐏🐑 in this day and age lol 😂🤣🤪🤣😂

[@justonsullivan3807]

What a great man. 👍🇺🇲🗽🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿👍

[@iamtheman7018]

I gotta say - his family didn't seem real happy to be riding around town on that thing. It would be very interesting to see and hear their stories today.

[@simonlovett151]

The family looks like they are thinking "It is 1982, next door have a ZX Spectrum, can't we at least have a bloody car? A Marina would do....."