Fred Dibnah, Steeplejack.

[threebikesmcginty]

This is his finest moment, it's quality British craftsmanship at its absolute pinnacle, you just don't see this attention to detail any more. Eee lad.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

I can barely look when he climbs up the overhangs on this one

Love that. Same pace from the bottom all the way to the top, he was like clockwork.

Hard hat, gloves, hi-vis, harness? "Fook that lot, ah's got a cloth cap!"


GC

 

[Globalti]

The music is indeed Carnival of Venice but it's actually played with mind-boggling skill by James Galway on flute, with as many exuberant and florid embellishments as the Victorian chimneys Fred used to climb:


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FM456eNoVgQ

 

[Dayvo]

Yeah, I was a fan, too, and watched his programmes first time round.

He sounds exactly like one of my Bolton mates (not surprising, I s'pose).

 

[Globalti]

The Bolton accent is unique in Lancashire. Here in Bury the sound is flat but cycle a few miles west and the accent becomes much richer, more rounded and rolling, almost a northern version of Devonshire.

 

[Beebo]

I can barely look when he climbs up the overhangs on this one

I honestly dont think I could climb up that for £1million.
Even just the bit where he gets off for a rest on a ledge half way up would do me in.
And the getting down is harder than the getting up.

 

[Freds Dad]

When I lived in Bolton Fred used to pop into my local when passing by. He was always happy to talk about chimneys, steam engines etc. Especially if someone was buying his beer.

A great man who was born 50 years too late.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

When I lived in Bolton Fred used to pop into my local when passing by. He was always happy to talk about chimneys, steam engines etc.

That's hardly surprising though, is it? You were his dad.

GC

 

[FrankCrank]

...would love to have met him in a pub for a chat and a beer or three - him and Jack Hargreaves - ahh, if only.........

 

[subaqua]

this was one of the best series he did.

and the theme tune for this aint bad either

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

http://www.freddibnahheritagecentre.com/

it's not mentioned on that site, but whilst he was renovating the house, he installed a 'Priest-Hole', to another room

 

[Globalti]

I always felt sorry for his long-suffering first wife, Alison, after whom I think he named his steam roller.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Wonderful chap. They don't make em like that any more.

 

[rich p]

[QUOTE 3297967, member: 259"]I wonder when Fred will come back into fashion as a name? Jack disappeared without trace for a few decades and then stormed into first place about twenty years ago,

One day, Stanley, Reginald, and Baldwin will rise again! [/QUOTE]
I'm kinda hoping Rich will rise again, but back to your point...
...I think Freddie and Fred are on their way back. Maybe an infants' teacher could inform us.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Mark Williams (possibly chosen, so the programmes could be sold to local education authorities, as the kids would know him from Harry Potter, or 'The Fast Show'??)

And, of course, Freds successor........ Guy Martin

I'm not eating any Baked Beans that Mave, or Guy, make though............