FRED episode 4 - drinking and climbing - Fred Dibnah

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

[@shawnwalsh5430]

Fred reminds me of an old saying, "When Ships were made of Wood and Men were made of Steel "... Thank you.

[@DanP293]

Back in those days grafting was a very different thing, its a shame these sorts of trades have died out and we've lost a lot of history.

[@borntoclimb7116]

The most men in the past dont work on those chimneys + many Million of men today are working in more important jobs like truckers or farmers, No food without them.

[@borntoclimb7116]

@@DanP293 in many 3rd world countries work like this is normal even with lot of deaths but no one romantize it

[@DaillestBiggiesmalls]

​@@DanP293Technology advances, back 100 years ago horses were valued transportation, 10 years later when cars became a thing, horses became almost worthless

[@Vacuon]

I love how the guy climbs 500ft tall chemneys without a harness, but keeps his life-jacket to dig on an island in a pond. We all have our fears haha

[@antonyendean1873]

I think he said he couldn't swim.... but there again, whilst climbing the stacks, he couldn't fly either !

[@paulshuttleworth6261]

I don’t think the life jacket would have helped much climbing chimneys. Probably best to leave it off.

[@Luk3d411]

A man’s got to know his limitations

[@benben071]

He said the work on the island is dangerous because he couldn't swim, being on top of a 300ft chimney is safer in his eyes

[@stefengullicksen314]

Great catch!

[@kranziodelfantastico7433]

This is what a reality show should be. It doesn't force drama with music and editing, it just lets the subject be themself and offer a fascinating look into a life very few people will get to experience otherwise. Rest in peace, big man.

[@owenmorgan4703]

Fred's passion is addictive , great character and a very clever man, the "must see" program, for everyone massive thumbs up to the big man !

[@borntoclimb7116]

@@owenmorgan4703 as a freeclimber, i love it

[@peterbamforth6453]

not half modern tv can be pretty crappy

[@joewilson3575]

The greatness of it is that everyone can experience this sort of life. I mean obviously yes very few people will own steam engines (so in that sense it is letting people into a life that few will have) but not everyone wants a steam engine. The thing the show highlights is the work he put into it, forteen years all for the dream that one day it would run. Everyone can do that with something even if it's making models or painting or on their allotment or back garden or even just their yard! Obviously whats sad is that it's a different world now and the poor just get poorer, but within that we can still carve out a bit of an interesting life just like fred. I mean he's going to work all the time working a hard job and with his remaining energy pouring it into something he's passionate about, I think a lot of young people now can learn a lot from that (Not saying we don't I'm just saying there's a lack of motivation out there). That's what's special about Fred and why I think he's so awesome, it's not what he does, it's the passion he puts into it!

[@lesliedymond9484]

Very clever man rip fred

[@rossturpin8047]

It’s comforting to know that even an engineering mind as good as Fred’s can be slightly thwarted by a deckchair.

[@fastinradfordable]

Amen

[@Wesley_semeniuk96]

Fred is buried in the same cemetery as my family, I salute to him every time I pass his grave, what a legend.

[@chosento2988]

Please give him one for me next time you see him

[@smiffy113]

Dig him up

[@michaelschmitz4919]

Is his tomb stone a chimney with a scaffold around the top?

[@skizzysmith1146]

you can feel proud that he is there, except that I believe he has a rather long ladder and at the top of it is an infinitely long row of steam engines waiting for Fred to restore them, and next door is a pub with fantastic beer, free for ever.

[@burgersnchips]

@@michaelschmitz4919 I wondered the same thing, had a look on Google maps and someone has posted a photograph of his gravestone. It's a very simple affair, easily missed if I'm honest. Shame he didn't get something more in-keeping with his personality. Equally though had it been more fancy it would be more likely to be vandalised.

[@Discoretrox]

Is it just me or does anyone else watching these find them so therapeutic?! Just brilliant....

[@columkenn]

Yep

[@JohnDoe-kf7md]

Before our world was completely corrupted by the deep state and people actually thought for themselves and didn’t wear mask just because the government said to.

[@barryburton7755]

Its very relaxing to watch anything by fred,but remember in the first clip when the chimney came down so close to the fella being lost and all his clips and stuff would never have been.

[@Tomteeejay]

Spot on! I used to watch the TV series with my Dad. Happy memories of my Dad laughing away at Fred's antics and adventures. Pure escapism watching them back after all these years!

[@jonscally2349]

yes....love Fred.. these films are better than valium.lol

[@malcolmwilkinson4449]

Some 40+ years ago we were in the back room of our first house, a tiny 2 bedroom terrace on Leigh Road, Leigh Lancashire, when our entire house began rumbling and shaking. It felt like an earthquake, but the sound of a steam whistle made us go to the front door to investigate. There in full glory was Fred trundling past us in his traction engine and trailer causing absolute traffic mayhem behind him as he was heading back to Bolton!!!! A blast on his whistle and a wave to me and my wife as he passed us is still one of my abiding memories!!! RIP Fred, still missed👍👍👍

[@Crvstylvngs]

What a lovely memory, thank you so much for sharing it. It's comments like these that keep me going, having an insight from someone you don't know halfway across the world with a similar interest to you. Thanks again and I wish you and your family a good, long life.

[@johnnyv1982]

Great story

[@Realzezro]

Quality, im "only" 27 but discovered fred a while ago, the mans a steam train himself💪

[@anthonymorales842]

glorious memory

[@gedheaton1415]

Mate I had a pint with him once near to your's at Leigh Miners,he's been a rally of sorts nearby, that said he was in a van not the traction engine. Top man.

[@andersestes]

I'm gonna always come back to this for the rest of my life. What a man. What a story. What a time capsule. Inspiring and meditative.

[@futureshock5641]

Nearly 40 years later and we're still watching and listening to Fred, what an absolute legend, they don't make em like him anymore

[@1971dave]

Well" they do, with all accounts he was an utter bastard of a man, treated his three wives like shit and cut them out of the will, is first three kids don't really had anything to do with him,

[@TrueHelpTV]

the ones like them just get labeled by society.. come eat lunch with a bunch of tower climbers; we're still around =p we just can't film it anymore because there's always a Karen somewhere who'll spend their entire drunken evening figuring out who to complain to so people get in trouble.

[@jeffreyhawes]

he is more than a legend he is a hero

[@gungapea8801]

There is still people like him around but we can’t be as blatant as he is because health and safety would crucify you. There’s No substitute for hard graft and common sense

[@davidwebb9752]

Nearly 40 years later and the job still isn’t finished. Hell Andy Dufresne tunneled out of Shawshank in under 20 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@tune7333]

This guy is the total antidote to the celebrity driven hell we live in today....this is clever hard working stuff..brilliant.

[@MideanStone]

well said, and agreed.

[@Fishingadventureuk]

Oh yes incredibly articulate and the way he figured out how to put a simple deck chair up in over an hour really demonstrated his intelligence...

[@longnamedude3947]

@@Fishingadventureuk He built multiple Steam Engines at home, that is by far no easy task.......sure, he struggled with a deck chair, but then again, look at Steven Hawkins, he was unable to articulate his arms and yet is one of the smartest people to have ever lived. It may not be obvious to you, but intelligence is applied and distributed differently, some people struggle outright of course, but it seems clear to me that Fred Dibnah hard a good noggin.

[@Fishingadventureuk]

@@longnamedude3947 very true!

[@ramases1]

hear hear

[@shuggie7427]

I used to window clean near where Fred lived and I loved listening to the noise that came from his back yard when he was working in it. Occasionally I’d see him and we’d wave to each other like old friends. Since he’s gone and to this day I find the area eerily quiet. RIP big man 😢

[@dudeguy9943]

hell of a man he was

[@haraldhasthi3171]

I've ben sitting smiling half an hour almost, what a character. How can you not admire a person like that...

[@anthonymulcahy1166]

Donald was his perfect right hand man. Never said a whole lot but Fred trusted him with his life. 2 legends

[@lukehusbands4037]

Only a man like Fred would have found a man like Donald! Pair of legends

[@johnathanryan2117]

In a lot of ways theyre very typical of how bloke round this way used to get on. There always seemed to be the talkative " extrovert" and his more taciturn mate. Perfect foil in a lot of ways. Great that Fred can sort out a steam engine and chimney just by looking at it, but a blackpool deckchair foxes him!

[@johnathanryan2117]

@@user-zy9yg2eu5t doubt it. Different type of pipes, screws, shafting and nuts that interested them.

[@user-zy9yg2eu5t]

@@johnathanryan2117 Shame. I think Donald would have been a very SENSUAL person in the sack

[@chrispbacon3042]

@@johnathanryan2117 I am similar with stuff. I can build a pc from scratch but I am hopeless with MS Word.

[@carbonsiliconnn]

Every morning between 10 and 10.15 Fred would dip Health& Safety blokes in his tea

[@xtrofilm]

HA HA, brilliant.

[@zibbezabba2491]

haha

[@grahamjonathan762]

Blinder!

[@zivkovicable]

Since 1974 there has been an 84% decrease in workplace fatalities. I think that's probably a good thing on balance.

[@ramases1]

hahaha spot on!!

[@8acun]

simply climbing that ladder would make your forearms fucking swell to exploding and burn like crazy... this is a real man's work.

[@a.i.a3949]

Its not quite that bad. You can get a bit of a burn if you're nervous and white knuckling the ladder but its not even as bad as swinging a lump hammer forearm wise.

[@mrwhite1765]

Your climbing the ladder wrong if your using your forearms the pull… use your legs to push

[@msxmurda2385]

I didn’t search for this. Somehow it just popped up and it’s one of the best little documentary films I’ve ever seen. Thanks KZbin.

[@MrGoombasticveryFantastic]

The entire series is great and such a nice view into what it was like 40 years ago. Everybody speaks so fluently and well and you dont have people zombiefied by their electronic devices.

[@borntoclimb7116]

@@MrGoombasticveryFantastic 40 years ago there was lot of teens with drugs, it was a pretty big Problem in the 80s

[@MrGoombasticveryFantastic]

@@borntoclimb7116 At least they were social and not have their phone as an emotional support object

[@borntoclimb7116]

@@MrGoombasticveryFantastic they have Hollywood hocuspocus and narcism back then, it is not new, the Smartphones are just show the narcism better

[@Ashfielder]

Fred had more industrial output from his shed in 1982 than the entire UK has now

[@longnamedude3947]

We aren't quite as heavy on industrial works as we used to be, but we are far ahead of almost every other country in regards to technology, automotive engineering and low volume precision manufacturing. All highly skilled jobs, and anyone that thinks otherwise, tell me when was the last time you developed a Formula 1 Car, because, as far as I am aware, minus about 3 teams, every single Formula 1 car has been developed in the UK, that's the peak of automotive performance. Alongside this, we also have ARM (Previously Acorn Computing), who's architecture is in every single smartphone on the planet. Beat that.

[@turbo682]

@MercyReaper far ahead in terms of technology how?

[@turbo682]

@@longnamedude3947 believe it or not there is a lot more to the planet than F1

[@longnamedude3947]

@@turbo682 Yeah, Like ARM, as I mentioned.....

[@michaelmartin9022]

@@longnamedude3947 Where are those chips made? I'd wager it's not Yorkshire.

[@nchcroy3877]

Hands up those who would have loved to have spent an afternoon having a brew with Fred and listening to his tales?

[@Shads62]

he was in my local in workington during an episode of one show. I was at work so missed him. Always regeret not taking that day off

[@fayecox9401]

Me would been intresting

[@scottnewton9370]

A pint , hold the brew unless it's home brew

[@CelticSaint]

@@Shads62 Yes, the niggling feeling of what might have been. I have such regrets as well. One in particular.

[@matthew09ify]

It wouldnt be a brew itd be a pint o guiness

[@retrorambles517]

So sad how TV has changed in the last 40 years So well made and relaxing and listen how well Fred and everybody else speaks

[@malcolmwilkinson4449]

Me my wife and my small son were fortunate enough to see Fred fell the chimney of the Alder Mill in Leigh , Lancs using his old method of using fire to burn through the wooden props he had installed to support a massive section of the chimney base he had removed . No explosives mere fire. Any movement of the chimney simply using a metal rod installed between two rows of bricks just above the top of the hole he had taken out to enable him to build his wooden props. He came chatting to the crowd who were assembled to see the felling of the chimney. The irony was seeing smoke again pouring out of the top of the chimney for one last time before it’s demise was quite moving seeing that I had actually worked at Alder Mill as a lad. Then the rod slowly began to droop, the time of the felling was imminent but Fred still went to take a look at the fire !!!!! Then came the honking horn and Fred shouting ‘she’s going’ and like some gravely wounded animal the chimney slowly fell to the ground so gracefully it brought a tear to my eye. Another part of my home Towns history gone forever. Never again would those huge white bricks towards the top of the tower spelling out ALDER would be visible across the rooftops of Leigh. The only remaining piece of that huge cotton mill is ,what was , the small office , but it still proudly displays ‘Alder Mill’. above the arched doorway.

[@KidThomsonMediaProductions]

That pulley System with the milk churns is pure unadulterated genius

[@davidmarsden8008]

Fred had a PhD on Murphies Law

[@MrDigimal]

Simple but so impressive. What a legend

[@royalhero4608]

Could fred himself not have gone up and down in that?

[@JuliusSeizure1]

@@royalhero4608 then someone other brave bloke has to go up and lower it.. So the main man Fred can be lifted up. So I imagine Fred wouldn't have that so he may as well go up himself!

[@lloydsmith8558]

I agree, but why was it never loaded straight in to a skip? Keep a me up at night Lol

[@mistral55]

Chuck Norris had a poster of Fred on his bedroom wall........

[@carlobelmont5629]

so true

[@padgecrack4018]

😂

[@kierm5410]

Why do I always see chuck Norris references of these videos. ???

[@paulhughes5353]

mistral55 that could be the best comment I’ve ever read.😂😂😂

[@monkeyseemonkeydo432]

🤣

[@normanmunns4743]

A real mans man Articulate , intelligent with a great sense of humour He could relate to anyone Also a brilliant presenter

[@johnrobinson8027]

As an American with British heritage. This makes me happy and proud of that heritage.

[@JustDaniel6764]

Fred was a fantastic man

[@stevemartin6423]

"You wanna try this bloody job sober!!!" lol classic Fred

[@tune7333]

ha...brilliant

[@Tailspin80]

I had to put a chimney liner down in my first house 40 years ago. Getting off the top of the ladder, over the guttering and up the roof was just too scary. Went down the pub at lunch, couple of pints of Fullers ESB, and the whole job was done and dusted in 20 minutes.

[@danw1374]

@@Tailspin80 Nice one. A bit of Dutch courage is underrated i say!

[@steeveedee8478]

@@Tailspin80 Stabilizing fluid!

[@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne]

Having watched him climb that chimney I've reached the conclusion that whatever he got paid, it wasn't enough......

[@TellGee]

Bib The Boulder it was back then.

[@xmikerx666]

You can frankly bugger that for a game of soldiers. Not a chance in hell. Fair play to the guy.

[@willlaflam]

4500 pounds....not sure what that would translate in today’s money but doesn’t seem like enough by a long shot

[@123TauruZ321]

@@willlaflam Probably time it by 5 or 10, perhaps a year's salary. But let's take an unortodox view of it. He chose to work without a harness, it was his choice. So i don't know, it may have been just about a normal salary.

[@doktoruzo]

@@willlaflam . Out of interest this was filmed around 1979-80 if I recall and using the Bank Of England inflation calculator, £4,500 in 1980 equates to approx. £20,000 in today's money (2020). So, I think he was quite well paid but it was hard work and quite risky business. He would of course had to pay Donald, his helper and tax etc. The average weekly wage for the time was approx £100 per week, so annually about £5,200. I feel quite unwell just watching him up on those chimney's, the man had balls of steel and deserved every penny he earned.

[@mortanos8938]

Fred, I love you ! You called yourself lazy but were one of the hardest working men I've ever seen, and I've been a very hard worker in my good days while you were still at it with 50. You may have stood like a God above all the rest high atop those chimneys, but humble and sweet as you were, your feet always remained on the ground. You were down to Earth and enjoyed simple tastes in life, be it Beer or steam engines, you were a simple man with a job that was anything but simple. One of the most dangerous jobs on this planet, yet you remained quaint and humble through it all. Sadly your kind is a lost breed to our civilisation. You are an inspiration to courage and character and now have one more fan. Greetings from Germany. RIP Fred. God bless you.

[@AwayFromSirens]

What a beautiful comment to remember a hero such as Fred ❤

[@douglasgreen437]

& that sums up what Fred means to us mere mortals..👏

[@FB-fp4pv]

Incredible comment…just incredible

[@DUDE72341]

loved seeing him climb the ladders with a cig hanging from his mouth...he may not have had the longest life but he was certainly ALIVE when he walked this earth!

[@getredytagetredy]

Fred climbs 300 ft and immediatley has a smoke and picks a hammer up and starts smacking brick...Legend....

[@elonmust7470]

What else would he do, take a nap?

[@garyhardman8369]

I had to smile when I saw the piece on the 'island'. That lake was man made, when the construction of the nearby M62 (now M60 ring road) was crossing the Irwell valley. A motorway bridge was constructed, in order to span both the river Irwell and the Salford to Bolton railway line. The lake was formed, when the motorway construction needed extra material to bring the land adjoining the bridge to the same level. So, they started excavating the valley floor, to obtain the material. I'm not sure what went wrong, but they needed a lot more material than first estimated. There was a problem though, in the middle of their excavations sat an electricity pole, which carried the wires that supplied a property on the other side of the river. So they dug around it, thus forming the island. The electricity pole had long since been removed when this film was shot, but if you look back at the footage, you can clearly see the remaining 'stump' where it had been cut off. I smile because at about the age of 13 (I'm 59 now), Me and one of my mates took a tent over to the island and slept for the night. We achieved this by strapping all our gear to a lorry tyre inner tube, and towed it across whilst swimming. Sounds ridiculous now, but it was a big adventure when you're 13. By the way, the island was never flattened, and is now covered in dense shrubs. R.I.P. Fred, you were a legend.

[@ThePistpet]

Great anecdote thanks for that, I find watching Fred very grounding, a link to days gone by

[@garyhardman8369]

Yes, it is Clifton Marina. You can see the island on Google Maps. Unfortunately, you can no longer see the remains of the electricity pole, as the Island is covered in shrubs.

[@johnfleming7252]

Nice story Gary 👍

[@eltonlovell9898]

I was just thinking yesterday what would be left of that island.. I love that they just dropped off two blokes with shovels for a day and then it isn't mentioned again.

[@Just1Spark]

Thank you for the story!

[@golfhacker9051]

How can you not like this stuff, what a moment in history.

[@happyfeet4506]

Fred was a legend. The keeper of a world that's now being erased from history. God bless Fred ❤️

[@peternagy-im4be]

Erased by little nobodies.

[@rosebudlime]

He was a legend, and this documentary is wonderful. He is hardly erased from history when we have an incredible primary source just above.

[@geraldstarr9950]

After a days work dangling off a massive chimney with nothing but a flat cap for safety gear, Fred liked to go home and relax by fixing his steam engine. The essentials for repairing his giant steam roller include; lifting big bits of metal and sticking them on other big bits of metal, smoking cigarettes, drinking beer, danger, intricate knowledge of Victorian engineering and having lots of skill. I’m grateful we have these videos to appreciate the man and his achievements. Thank you.

[@lovethemack]

absolute fact. it just made no sense that he kept trying to have a marriage while doing all that.

[@deth3021]

Pretty sure he built that engine from scratch... that is he wasnt repairing it.

[@geoffm9944]

Fred Dibnah was a very talented and hard working steeplejack, who once described himself as a ‘back street‘ engineer. Although he was a joiner by trade, he accumulated a wide amount of engineering skills by simply watching and then applying himself. Fred was like a Victorian, self taught working man, who had enormous energy and stamina, worked bloody hard and was prepared to take huge risks while working several hundred feet up a ladder. Indeed, he could turn his hand to almost any task. RIP Fred.

[@TimNelson]

Well said, Geoff. Perfect stated, mate.

[@ShevillMathers]

Awarded an honorary Doctorate (PhD) and another academic recognition for his engineering talents/skills. Wikipedia has a lot of information about Fred Dibnah.

[@gareth198808]

As a Northerner there’s just something about him, friendly, easy to talk to, easy to listen to - what a top man

[@mistereb]

I would have switched this over in 1986, now I'm 44 I'm happily spending half hour chunks of my time with Fred Dibnah!

[@whatsthetruth23923]

Me too, f second time. And I'm only 33, brought up reet 👍

[@kennethtalbott2233]

and learning at the same time.....

[@anthonyleighton4754]

It's called getting older and wiser. .... It is a tonic compared to toxic love celebrity island type rubbish...

[@ProfileP246]

When he came on the telly I was 12, I was glued and when each episode ended I was like noooo i want more more, I loved it.

[@keithpringle3940]

I'm a similar age mate! I would've done exactly the same, I had much better things to do with my time off school than watch an old man fix a chimney! We had all that rubble and shite to play in and explore, my brother would have a heart attack if his wee girl was playing on a building site or jumping about in a derelict old manor house!!

[@teemac1298]

If you're here in 2020, I salute this Man. And you.

[@lindabingham394]

hes was alegend i believe i am from US seen him on you tube love it , would have liked to work with him in the past and gurgle a few pints also

[@paulmcdonough1093]

@@lindabingham394 he is to rough for any yanks were real people in the north of england

[@Thesomersetgimp]

@@paulmcdonough1093 dude ffs, there are plenty of tough yanks and more heavy industries in the states now than there are over here. The only yanks we see on telly are the soft widgy types regurgitating the latest trend on social media.

[@franktuckwell196]

I like a lot of Brits, fell in love with Fred, because he had no pretentions as to who he was, but spoke to us mere mortals the same way. If only i could have had him as my history/metalwork teacher at school. I would certainly have paid far more attention than i did. He just speaks to you on our own level, grabs your attention and makes it all so interesting. So very easy to see how he became such a British icon. I am so pleased we can all watch and re-watch these videos again and again. I never met him, but would have loved to have done, thanked him and willingly have bought him a pint.

[@danmaycock9238]

It's like he knew his shit but would teach you it too.

[@DIYBFF123]

I shall never complain about my job ever again

[@marklarizzle]

This is so much more interesting then any of that shit on Netflix.

[@tiarnan76]

netflix is filth

[@youthmanrecords965]

tiarnan pagan Hollywood at its finest Net pricks

[@tiarnan76]

@@youthmanrecords965 absolutely - did you hear about the recent scumbag piece they did on Jesus Christ? All of the ones running Netflix are satanic scum

[@mythoughts1................1]

they are without a doubt...

[@LikeaBoss-rl3fs]

Err I’m guessing you haven’t seen ru Paul’s drag race on net flix 😂

[@joefrugoli4970]

We need this here island knocked down from 15 feet to 3 feet. Fred "give us a shovel".

[@tomrogers9467]

These days the “ environmental assessment” and permits would cost more that moving the dirt!

[@VickyVideo_]

I love you Fred.I watched your funeral and it's the hardest I've cried for years. Your cap and red ladders and your boys driving the steam engine.

[@wetbanditstudios]

That half hour flew by. Felt like 10 minutes. What a remarkable man

[@colloredbrothers]

This cleans my soul after the dirt I have to endure in this God for saken modern world.

[@davidian7787]

Nicely said.

[@yupimbackk]

You are so right.

[@Nathanhodgeon13]

People like you wouldn’t be happy regardless of which time you were to live in. Don’t forget it’s this god for sake modern world which has provided you with everything in which you require to watch this video as well as complain like an ungrateful child. Honestly people and their first world problems!

[@colloredbrothers]

@@Nathanhodgeon13 Implying human beings cannot feel unhappy when their basic needs are met, are you a fucking caveman or something? Read a book.

[@brycegrant418]

Same

[@MCharlie94]

One of the most therapeutic pieces of television to watch ever.

[@pleasepermitmetospeakohgre1504]

MCharlie94 Indeed, it had exactly the same effect on me, and I'm not even into steeplejacking or steamrollers.

[@stevepercival4774]

I agree real reality tv

[@bidenhasdementia8657]

for sure, but it makes me want to weep for whats happened to the UK.

[@martynstembridge7714]

A LOT of old British TV like this is very relaxing to watch ... Makes you kick back and wish for better times long gone.

[@blondemommyvomit]

You mean you don't like turning on the TalmudVision and seeing program after program of White women and black men sexual pairings? You a bigot or something?

[@teslaphile2097]

A truly fearless man. What a grafter! The absolute joy from correctly felling a chimney is infectious! I never worried about him taking 'half a day off at the undertakers' because he was never worried. The weight of those heavy duty wooden ladders that he's tied to the chimney impresses me to this day. Total legend. Rest easy Sir. I would sooner see him in the school curriculum than oh, so many forget-able Kings and Queens. And the Victorian period he loved so much.

[@teslaphile2097]

£4,500 or $5,500-$6,000. In 80's money. I would've charged them a little more. Probably charge ten times that for dynamiting it nowadays

[@TJTruth]

I have been watching Fred for so long he almost feels like family. I would love to see what that lake looks like now. RIP Fred we love you.

[@Antny913]

This guy is the man!! United States pays respects to the legend.

[@PAULLONDEN]

Fred hadn't too bloddy moch of a high cap for them bloddy yanks..yu kno....

[@Antny913]

PaulLonden oh I don’t blame him at all, I wouldn’t take kindly to a country that beat the shit out of and forcefully evicted my great great grand parents either. 😊 cheers!

[@JUSJAK]

@MrKayaker69 tis rrrr

[@TheNickHorton]

Antny913 you guys are aware that it was the English that kicked the English out of America? It was just an infighting between one nation, so technically the Brits won any way you look at it 😇

[@elonmust7470]

@@TheNickHorton You aren't doing much winning these days..

[@johnfrench9608]

He said " I think I am quite lazy" as he dismantles an enormous chimney brick by brick. RIP Fred!

[@giantbellend]

Love that these videos popped up in my recommended feed. Cant stop watching them, brings a smile to my face watching and listening to Fred.

[@A7exandersca7es]

It blows my mind that he finds that island so dangerous compared to a chimney. Then again im blessed to have been given time to learn to swim... this man is so beautiful

[@grahamjonathan762]

I've only ever had a step ladder. I never knew my real ladder.

[@I_am16]

Lmfao

[@carlarthur4442]

Graham Jonathan 🤣😂🤣😅🍻🍻🍻🍻

[@Grymlol]

Hahahahaha

[@John-ro1iv]

Deserves more likes

[@southpawboxing4265]

I live 20 minutes walk from his home, and the remnants are still there from his hard work. He put this town on the map, and Bolton, if not Britain, is a lesser place without him. RIP Fred. Gone but not forgotten.

[@andyjaye7885]

SHOULD AV GONE TO THE ISLE OF FERNANDO!!! LOL...

[@fedecano7362]

I would say the World is a lesser place! Im not British but I love this man

[@YGELLYPIKER]

I’m 52 from Fife Scotland used to visit my dads auntie and uncle who lived in higher darcy street in Bolton and passing Fred’s house hoping the steam engine was there was the highlight of the 4 hour journey.

[@paulshuttleworth6261]

It looks like a damp, bleak, dirty life, most would be thoroughly miserable. But yet he seems so happy and content. I think this is even before there were 4 TV channels! Now we have the whole world in our hands and waste our time frittering it away playing shitty mobile games, rotting on the sofa, and communicating by text. He would shake his head with disappointment at most of us.

[@michaelbaker3024]

so very true

[@DIYBFF123]

Well, he was drunk 🤪😂

[@marcoantonio078]

I'm proud to say my wife called me a Scottish Fred dibnah. Though he was 20 times the man I could ever hope or have hoped to be. Rest easy auld freen.🌹🌹🌹

[@CyberstormDJTeam]

I can't stop watching these movies. Fred is about the coolest bloke that I have seen in ages. Just great! Thanks a million for posting! Nice greetings from Germany.

[@jimmybob3756]

I grew up watching this bloke....I am still in awe...30-40 years later. 👍

[@kollusion1]

Great com. I too have refound Fred again after 30 years.

[@Cola64]

Fred coined the phrase: Dirty Hands Clean Money 🤙🏻

[@Thewhiteranger6969]

I found out about this guy through KZbin, being from the US. I love this guy, his attitude, work ethic ect. Sad he is passed on, but one day it'll be be our turn.

[@leemiles3975]

Our country isn't what it used to be ..they don't make people like this anymore this man makes me proud to be 🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@Thewhiteranger6969]

@@leemiles3975 the same could be said of The United States. Unfortunately the qualities of manliness, self reliance, and hard work aren't looked upon with respect anymore. Rather young men (especially white men) are indoctrinated to be Beta, self hating, and timid. Cheer 🍻 , we can only hope and pray things get better.

[@leemiles3975]

@@Thewhiteranger6969 yeah I read up on american society and culture of grown to notice most hatred is exaggerated and peddled by the MSM or social platforms..we as a society need to rise up to what is becoming of this world children so influenced by technology that we grow to part from old ways ..."one day the he looks up away from his device to notice there parents aren't there anymore" ...

[@Thewhiteranger6969]

@@leemiles3975 You are correct, the msm has become only a source of lies second only to our federal government. Too clarify a previous statement, I still believe there is a very strong since of patriotism in our country, and I believe the UK aswell, but In the case of the USA it certainly isn't displayed on television or depicted in movies. It's mostly just leftist, woke garage, that doesn't represent the feeling of the silent majority. Nice speaking w you.

[@anthonynotaro1203]

What a breath of fresh air the man was

[@johnnygreenshirt6215]

Fred died on 6 November 2004 may he rest in peace. In 2020, 21, 22, 23 to 3000 onwards people all over the world will be watching Fred.

[@TheNinjaMarmot]

13:00. One brick at a time. Bit by bit. Nothing is impossible. That mentality is sadly missing in todays society. Miss u Fred.

[@prawngravy18]

The amount of labour that the modern man/woman goes through in this generation is a lot more than back then so this is complete bullshit. Can't you just appriciate a craft without spouting bullshit?.

[@KazakhToon]

We all get what we get brick by brick. Though some are born with more bricks than others.

[@garyjohnson1392]

@@prawngravy18 Well...Nowadays... I don't believe we generally take down chimneys/steeples like these , brick by brick , with our hands , now do we..? I would debate your " complete bullshit" reply as inaccurate , and impolitely stated

[@adsensedd]

Bullshit. There are plenty of hard working and industrious people around today. The difference is, they are also dealing with job instability, technology taking their jobs, debt, and huge problems like climate change. Back then you could get a job and work at it for decades. Doesn't happen now for most people.

[@djb3v]

@@prawngravy18 utter horseshit you fucking wet blanket

[@johnallen470]

Most fearless man on the planet.

[@paulwalker1793]

I'd love nothing more than to sit in a pub and listen to Fred talk. And sit there a learn .

[@orsonincharge4879]

Fred employing a little known Bolton technique called " grafting " , or " aad wuk "

[@davidmarsden8008]

Or Hard Yakka

[@mr.d.6529]

The England I miss.

[@distantthunder12ck55]

Men like Fred built Britain, now we have coins telling us diversity built Britain. We live in very twisted, dark times.

[@DavidSmith-op8ix]

@@distantthunder12ck55 correct absolutely correct.

[@gailcrook2687]

England that I knew, gone forever

[@dntino1340]

We can keep it alive by not bowing to diversity.

[@paulgilson2347]

Times change, always have always will. I love this period though and although I'm not a fan of a lot of modern stuff, I don't think it's worth getting annoyed about things that are out of our control.

[@keithdouglas9848]

I've watched this so many times and still amazing at how he even climbed up thoses ladders let alone how in gods name he erected the scaffold at the top! What a man!! Balls of steel!! 🇮🇪

[@joconnor3567]

While smokin a cigarette?!

[@shiroism8039]

@@joconnor3567 yeah dudes a fucking legend man.

[@keithdouglas9848]

@@joconnor3567 he was special!

[@tazman5722]

I happened upon Fred Dibnah's videos about 8 months ago for the first time. I began to watch every one where he felled a chimney thinking at the time that was all he did. Now, I come across videos of Fred doing so many other marvelous things, it's amazing. He must have been quite the bloke and I would have loved to have met him. Maybe someday I'll be lucky enough to visit his house/museum. RIP Fred. Cheers from Canada. Edit: Just read that the house/museum was closing and everything was auctioned off in 2018. What a shame.

[@richardlewin9282]

Yes his engine should be on display right across from the crown jewels 😉

[@bretttobin9632]

No doubt the powers that be will create a rainbow safespace for trans gender refugees of colour.

[@geoffreycarson2311]

SO SAD 😣He WAS ENGLAND'S SPIRIT NOW IT'S A FOREINGN COUNTRY 😣😣😣😣😣😴g

[@Remnants100]

@ tazman572 - Felled a chimney, "I thought that's all he did" - I know it's not what you meant, but that in itself is really somethin'

[@Stylensky]

That really got me at the end. Fred never got his "fancy gravestone". Someone needs to volunteer to build the chimney he wanted. I've seen pictures of his gravestone and it's just a normal one. Very sad that it's not what he wanted. He deserves a nice chimney.

[@KneeoGeeo]

Stylensky his son never got anything in his will. Even though he left to his daughters. Bad really.

[@walterkersting1362]

He has his legacy.

[@alanvt1]

I am surprised that non british can understand his accent! many english people can't!

[@mkfloyd9131]

Who cares they can always turn on sub-titles...

[@mkfloyd9131]

What with health and stupidity and planning probably would not be allowed, pity really...

[@tobypetty6354]

I'm a Mason in America and love watching Fred on these you tube videos over and over probably watched them all 10 time's at least and will continue to wish I could have met and worked with him RIP Fred Dibnah

[@derekwilliams7901]

Nice one

[@PumpkinHeadGaming909]

A million times the man anyone of us will ever be

[@garymitchell5899]

Speak for yourself

[@peternagy-im4be]

​@@garymitchell5899he probably means the masses of useless green haired freaks we have in today's joke society.

[@thorsvensson8172]

I’ve now watched it again and fallen in love with the milk churn sequence. It’s so beautifully choreographed and the music is perfect. I think Fred reminds us of simple pleasures and the value of humility.

[@blackcat5159]

This type of genius and strength is what Britain and others were built on. Brilliant in so many ways. Few of us could even imagine too remotely achieve the heights Fred did. A true bloke that deserved total respect.

[@blackcat5159]

Britain did use its power to launch the industrial revolution which resulted in many deaths and abuse of power, agreed. Back then if it had not happened where would we be now.............?? Thousands of deaths in this country as well in industry but it provided jobs. Would industrial revolution have happened at all or would we have been a lesser player in the game? Is the world a better place for what happened? Similar abuse is still happening, its the nature of being human. Tim Berners-Lee or any one else would not have taken Arthur C Clarkes vision and brought it into reality because computers would not exist if the industrial revolution had not happened. So am asking you do you think industrial revolution should not have happened? If so nearly every thing you own should not be. Am not condoning what happened am just saying the facts as I see them. Difficult isnt it? :-(

[@dannypaterson888]

@Jericho and without it you'd be having mud cookies for dinner so be grateful you orc

[@michaelandrews4403]

@Jericho There have been multitudinous 'empires' and 'colonies' over the ages. Additionally; any person born into their land when it is under colonial rule no longer, has not been deprived of a single thing. Nothing was/has been stolen from them. This is the only land that existed when they came to it and all, and any, forerunner is irrelevant to them.

[@harleygough]

@@michaelandrews4403 Remember China and the Opium Wars? Yeah? The Chinese were no only deprived of their right over what to do with their own product originating in their own country, they were deprived of their lives after being blown to bits by British warships.

[@willfishing5605]

You should see the shit we do in America

[@johnfleming7252]

I love the life jacket. The man climbs a chimney 100s feet high without a safety rope with a cig in his gob, then uses a life jacket on a little man made pond probably 2 feet deep. :-) Don't make em like that anymore RIP Fred

[@LushForests]

Fred didn't know how to swim. :')

[@garyhardman8369]

The lake is actually about ten to fifteen feet deep in places. I know, because I used to swim in it as a teenager. Somebody drowned in there many years ago, thus all swimming was banned.

[@9carcottrell246]

My grandpa was scared to death of water, but he would make a steeple jack of today’s era look bad. I never saw a soul follow him up the 400 foot ladder to the top of the stack and walk the smoke stack NEVER

[@prawngravy18]

​@@9carcottrell246 There are no 400 foot smoke stacks in britain never mine england...

[@9carcottrell246]

prawngravy18 don’t matter wat dah height. U ain’t going up it. I’ll bet my life savings

[@andyd2528]

I met Fred in a pub about 25 years ago. He was good company. He had no film crew with him. He was absolutely fascinated by Victorian engineering.. Nice fella.

[@heilanaumann4521]

WoW! Fred is Freaken awesome! I love how he is so layed back. That Steam engine is something else! My dad was a steam engine driver back in South Africa. He started at the age of 16 till he retired. As a child I would climb on the train and play. I miss those days.

[@tommullen6417]

Crazy! And so British. I was a roofer in my younger days, but watching this scares the granny out of me. God Bless FD.

[@tensevo]

All I am saying is my Grandad respected Fred, and he was the hardest man I have ever known.

[@kennethtalbott2233]

brilliant. he got a lot of respect from all kinds of people. just climbing up those chimneys gets my respect.

[@ssss-df5qz]

Couple of pints before going up - what a legend.

[@aaronstorey9712]

@das wright become a stagehand then we are always pissed

[@the_real_bin_chicken]

@das wright some of us still do go back to work after a few schooners. just dont tell the boss haha

[@diden3527]

@das wright worked on the NSW Railways in Leichardt in the 80's, and we'd only work 1/2 day then into pub and get back to depot in time to sign off. If you didn't like the pub, then you sat in the crew truck for 1/2 a day and waited. If you actually tried to do some work, then you were shunted to another crew - but the same thing happened.

[@MrSuperG]

das wright yeah Australia is a shit hole so disappointed in that place . Apart from nimbin.

[@manishoker3484]

Proper geezer

[@fakevirus8828]

This man is a legendary masterpiece he is proof of how hard humans are.

[@niccat7051]

RIP to Fred the GOAT!!

[@g2macs]

When this was first broadcast, we never realised just how special he was. He did become a household name and when he passed he was missed by the nation. So glad that youngsters will see on the tube just why he was so admired and why there will never be his like again.

[@PeteCswampy]

watched in awe and fascination as a young lad all the series, My family is from Bolton orginally and used to go past freds house regular, what a great guy, he also used to visit our village as we have a steam roller shed here (Johnsons of Banks)

[@prawngravy18]

Bloody lovely to see someone commenting happy that young people will be watching this, im a young lad myself and i think fred was a fantastic craftsman and a fantastic artist. I'm a skinny bastard so i don't get to talk about real crafts in the UK because i don't look like a grafter but I'm glad I can admire freds work and celebrate his life with other fans of his work. Brilliant man.

[@cbing4036]

This one of the reasons KZbin is great for our history in the U.K. !

[@RSR423]

g2macs when first broadcast we never realised he was special because he wasn't, Britain was full of characters like Fred back in 1978. Fred's generation was the post WW1 generation, and were bred out of hard times. People were of a different calibre then, than today's shower of shit, right was right and you called a spade a spade. The PC bleeding heart liberals and unsure gender morons of today's "entitled" generation, are a poor and feeble replacement, and the brave patriots that fought in WW1 and WW2, would be classed as right wing bigots, in accordance with today's immigrant sympathetic government.

[@cbing4036]

RSR423 brilliant assessment I couldn’t agree with you more !

[@MonteCarloGaz]

I was very fortunate back in 2001 that a mutual friend took me to his home to visit Fred. He was in real life as he was in these films, totally dedicated to his love of steam engines and what doesn't come across much in these films, every bit of machinery at the back of his house was steam driven. Even when we tried to leave for the day, he insisted that he wanted to take us up into his attic to show us even more 'stuff' he had acquired over the years. He genuinely didn't want us to go without showing us everything. He truly was a wonderful man.

[@haraldpettersen3649]

The Monte -Carlo Gazannova - What happened to the house and all the things that were there and the steam engines ?.

[@sabretooth5404]

@@haraldpettersen3649 they turned it into a museum about him. Unfortunately it closed years ago due to financial troubles

[@haraldpettersen3649]

@@sabretooth5404 - Thanks for the reply, unbelievable pity that it would end this way. The things he has carefully spent a lifetime collecting are now sold and scattered .

[@sabretooth5404]

@@haraldpettersen3649 it is a pity. The man was one of the last links to Britain's industrial era. But due to political correctness the government will never accept the greatness of a man who said it as he seen it. Too worried about upsetting the "queers" as fred called it

[@sabretooth5404]

@@haraldpettersen3649 after a bit of further reading it seems the husband and wife who turned it into a museum have auctioned off all his old belongings as they decided to retire. Seems to me they were more interested in cashing in on his name, couldnt draw the people they hoped to the museum due to not having a clue how to run one, so closed it and sold everything off. Seems people will do anything to try and get rich

[@dingnextstop]

I watched every episode of Fred’s program and loved it… he was a one off and I miss his wonderful accent and boyish mannerisms, he is still loved and missed today… a true Brit…

[@anthonyasquith1121]

Proper man. These tools from reality TV need to take a long hard look at themselves. A lifetime of graft. And a medal from the Queen. A life well lived.

[@deborahjohnstone7930]

Definitely x

[@johnDukemaster]

He climbed to the top before his cig was finished! :-)

[@t.sewell1513]

John Mård and then began to swing a sledge hammer without catching his breath.....true badass!

[@iloveboxing677]

When men were real men and knew what graft were... And he was highly intelligent.. RIP Fred Dibnah...

[@SWAGCHODE]

wow, this is amazing. why can't a single human of our time even come close to this level of simple ingenuity?

[@georgedavidson957]

"if you want to try this bloody job sober ... " ......... getting vertigo sitting at my pc! total legend!

[@adsensedd]

First time seeing this bloke. I love the fact he had all of this incredible knowledge and ingenuity, then they show him on the beach struggling with a chair, hilarious!!

[@lifelife2999]

Pablo Horteg 😂😅

[@highpath4776]

British Male on Holiday, Typical .

[@keithpringle3940]

Those deck chairs used to feature on classic 80s adventure quiz type show, the krypton factor, as part of the mental/physical challenges section!! You needed to be a NASA engineer to get one of those fuckers up without swearing!!

[@TimNelson]

I simply can't get enough of Fred. Super hero, able to bring tall structures down with a single hand, and with a smile on his face. A COMPLETE ORIGINAL. We yanks love the man. Bless him.

[@keithpringle3940]

How do yous get on without subtitles?

[@geoffreycarson2311]

GLAD YOU KNOW A BULLDOG When YOU See one 👍g

[@hoz49]

​@@keithpringle3940at times it is hard, but the pictures help.

[@DemonetisedZone]

A lot of working class people like me must look at this with thoughts of their own father and his struggles to get work in a time of upheaval. Lots to admire in our class and i feel sad that all of this was taken away. Some of our heavy industry should have stayed and the working class in this country are treated terribly

[@dontlookspins]

I think it was an earlier episode during his work on the church steeple when Fred remarked that, although they weren't all bad people, the lives of those mill owners and colliery owners was built off the misery of hard working people. Doesn't seem like much has changed.

[@douglasgreen437]

& 5 million are paid not to work..

[@thedevilsreject23]

It’s 2023 and I still miss Fred, these vids are just fantastic and makes me long for the way things were - lucky to have grown up in the 80’s and my foster father was exactly like Fred and from hard working south wales valley stock - cancer stole Fred too early but at least we have these vids and programmes of him to enjoy 👍🏻🍻👏🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🥃

[@voodoosurgeon9337]

Even the legendary, fearless and highly skilled Fred Dibnah is left baffled by the Deck chair!

[@robertdoyle4744]

@waptek0 the bill shankly of chimneys

[@markvines7308]

Pure Genius, the world is a lesser place without him.

[@anythingoldmechanical]

A truly Brilliant Man, where Excellence came as standard. They will never ge another one like him. RIP Fred.

[@chrisnewby5713]

As a plumber , boiler man. Welder and a fitter. I can respect the hell out of this man. I could never do the climbing like he did

[@bookaufman9643]

I discovered Fred dibnah about 4 years ago and I was completely fascinated. He's completely unknown here in the United States and it was just by some strange luck that I happened to come up on him. I've seen all of these videos before but I decided to watch them again. I've also seen another video that tracks his life after his popularity and fame and it's a little bit bleak. He ends up divorced from his wife and married to some other woman and it doesn't work out either. I think even ends up with a gold digger who takes him for some money. I know that he's passed but there's one thing about Fred that would still hold true with me and that's if the zombie apocalypse was coming and you had to rebuild the world he's somebody you would want to find as fast as possible.

[@JustDaniel6764]

He was an amazing man.

[@hoz49]

In an apocalypse it's important to "know things"...Fred was such a man

[@marcoantonio078]

This is terrible news to me, though I shouldn't really be surprised......my ex wife called me a Scottish Fred dibnah, sadly it seems some women like the idea of a real man, the reality seems not to be enough for them. I really had visions of him still being married.

[@bookaufman9643]

@@marcoantonio078 his first wife was a saint. He really did treat her pretty bad though he didn't do it on purpose. A mostly ignored her but also treated her pretty shabbily. You could tell she wasn't the type to get a divorce but she finally reached their wit's end. It was a step-down with each woman after that.

[@marcoantonio078]

@bookaufman9643 incredibly sad, I did read a quote from his first wife in which she complained about having to do most of the housework......I know it must have came down to more than just that, but it's incredibly sad and a situation from which neither will have really benefited. 😢

[@abaranihei2608]

Also, RIP Donald, the always helping silent hand :) two blokes i wouldve loved to have a brew together.

[@grainofsand1951]

but you wouldn't have got much conversation out of donald , abara, whereas fred could talk the hind legs off a donkey, as my dad used to say.

[@StrawberrySunday212]

He was never happier than being in his cap and oily overalls doing stuff. What a legend of a man

[@mikeyboy3054]

I could listen to this man all night. As a Firefighter who has worked around heights I'm just in awe of Fred. Legend to be sure.