I was a rooftiler for nigh on 30 years and have been up and down ladders for most of my life , sometimes in pretty scary circumstances with no scaffolding and up to six storey buildings as well but what Fred used to do just amazes me . I could never have done the extreme stuff he did and I like heights too . The man was just amazing . He was so confident in his ability , such a competent man . I can’t get over the way he used to walk along those single scaffold boards bowing like crazy in the middle at the top of a chimney he was cleaning or taking down brick by brick. Those flipping boards snap and break in two sometimes when they are not fully supported in the middle . I know ,it’s happened to me a few times when I have been only 25 feet or so off the ground . It gives me a chill even now just looking at the old footage of him romping around atop those old chimneys . Nerves of steel that man had and buckets of courage . It’s such a shame he got paid a relative pittance for the highly dangerous work he did . One tiny mistake or error of judgement or even an unexpected gust of wind or a dodgy loose brick and it would have meant sudden death . The fact that he lasted so long in his profession unscathed is a testament to his skill , courage and ability . There will never be anybody quite like Fred Dibnah again .
When I was 16,59 now,my first job was on demolition of a factory in Oldham, near Manchester England, Fred came on to demolish the chimney,by knocking holes in the base putting in big timber supports ,then setting fire to them so when they burnt the chimney had no support and down it came,just when the critical time came he ran round blaring a hand held horn,awesome memory,ahhh the good old days
Thanks for that information. I saw him lighting the fire but didn't realise that he propped it up with timber and that the fire burnt through the timber and that's why the chimney collapsed. I obviously wasn't paying enough attention.
When I was a young teenager in the U.K., I rang Fred because his number was not obscured. His wife answered and put me onto Fred who was more than happy to speak with me. This must have been about 1982 and I was so pleased we spoke! Not a word of a lie! He was a legend and God bless him RIP Fred
@Steve Ruddick well he commented on a public video, spouting a story that clearly is not true. And it is my duty as the bullshit detector to call him out on that.
This chimney is India Mill in Darwen. We inspected it a few years back and repaired a lot of lead and brickwork. We did with rope access - with 2 ropes attached at all times to your harness. And I can tell you, even with the ropes it was terrifying at first - incredibly exposed - so god knows how Fred keeps his head without ropes! No margin for failure whatsoever. I even abseiled to Harry Holden's ledge - his name is carved into the stone there! And it's not buzzards who nest there now - there's a female peregrine falcon who gets very upset when you approach her nest (of course we went outside of nesting season!)
I met my ex girlfriend at the house literally next door many years ago we used to go drinking at the base of that old chimney we always wondered what it would be like at the top
I watched this clip in an episode which was aired in the late 1970’s with my dad. We were both terrified - was scarier than a Hammer Horror film. Total respect to this man. RIP Fred, a true legend.
Former tower climber here, highest I've climbed is 850' (feet) or ~259 meters. Watching this guy sends chills down my spine. He climbed that entire chimney without any safety harness. On top of that - the thing that scares me the most are any type of over hang. Those are my biggest fears because how easily your feet can slip. Watching Fred do this without a harness freaks me out and sends chills down my legs.
What's amazing is the way he climbed the ladders at the overhang! That itself takes strength IMO, a ladder tilting in the opposite direction with no gear! I know many old timers who do something close to this and they are so fit at their age its unbelievable! My Unc Mike is 75 and he climbs like he is 20 years old! My unc will out live me possibly, LOL. I'm 61 and out of shape, well not really, I am shaped like a pear! LOL
Firefighter here who climbs aerial ladders with huge gaps in the rungs 7 stories up..... I shit my pants watching this guy Fred... his balls are much bigger than mine 😲
@@pentatonicpaddy oh i get it. He was one hell of a man though. Balls of British steel and a top class engineer as well. Dont make em like him anymore. Happy Christmas.
If we're being honest here, some of the greatest men who ever lived would probably be people who actually changed the lives of millions of people for the better. Someone who had any impact instead of someone who climbed ladders really well. ...
By any accounts, this is a remarkable feat of skill and stamina. The actual construction in the 1870's in itself is something else - but Fred makes that enormous climb look almost casual and the fact that he had to place all those ladders by hand himself frankly seems extraordinary.
Yup. I was amazed how he placed ladders end-on-end against a _smooth sided stack,_ going a half ladder at a time with- what? - 8-foot lengths of rope. How he placed these cantilevered ladders without "half-laddering" boggles the mind.
What a bloke. I grew up watching Fred. In my youth I thought he was just a nutty steeplejack. But, as I matured so did Fred's presenting career. Let's be honest, if anyone deserves a cushy retirement in front of a camera, it's this man! Then, I learned about his love of Victorian engineering. He loved the way people cared about what they were making, with expertise and care. He was so talented in so many ways. A joiner by trade, his writing and drawings were so artistic. His writing was like calligraphy! He could build steam traction engines (which in his words, are like a bloody big bomb!) from the ground up and if he didn't have the right tools... He'd make them! And his knowledge of architecture was endless. Many of UK loved watching Fred through his career, and I'm glad he's even straying across the pond! And I don't doubt that he and our love of him put some uppity history wannabee presenters out of a job. Sorry, he earned it, you didn't. I learnt so much from his easy going, layman's style of explaining. Thank you Fred, for everything!! Rest easy now.
At school Dibnah was placed in an art class (his reading and writing skills were judged to be poor), following which he spent three years at art college, where his work was based mainly on industrial themes such as machinery, pithead gear and spinning mills.
A wonderful, well, obituary really. Our lad obviously touched your heart as did he mine. Fred was the very best example of the classic understated trait of quiet forbearance and dogged determination. God rest his soul.
It's a shame that Fred Dibnah is best remembered for his demolition work on chimneys. This was a job he undertook reluctantly. His enthusiasm for and knowledge of Victorian engineering and construction was probably unparalleled during his lifetime. Additionally he was a very skilled draftsman, and his illustrations really were things of artistic beauty. We rarely get to witness so much talent in a single person, and we are lucky that Fred Dibnah was around at a time before Television became so highly commercialised and commoditised as it is now. He leaves behind a remarkable legacy of workmanship and knowledge, and we are a richer society for that.
Back off you ignoramus - you may not like what he said but he has every right to state his opinion. Even Dear Fred himself acknowledged his shortcomings as a husband and his tendency to place his work and his steam engines above his role as father and husband. That does not, however, detract from the simple fact that Fred Dibnah was a fine son of Bolton, from an earlier and better time and a Great Briton. Even soft southern pansys like me consider him the finest example of a true working man! Your comments do NOTHING to defend his honor and his legacy.
My second job after school was as a trainee steeple jack ,(43 or so years ago) I still remember the effort in laddering a chimney ..... no lightweight aluminium , just heavy strengthened timber about 8' long and 2 1/2 - 3 foot wide , weighed a blood tonne .... lost all my skin from both shoulders lugging these up one at a time to hand over to my foreman who incidentally was also called Fred ,who to help me out passed me his flat cap to put onder my jacket to cushion the ladder ( there was a strengthening wire under each wrung which caused all the skin loss ) great camaraderie amongst all the guys , fearless and hardworking just like Mr Dibnah
My father always kept his ladders outside...brilliant. Yeah, they eventually broke. I don't recall wire ever being used for that purpose....it was a good bit thicker than wire, it was solid rods of steel, and the better ladders had that run through a groove, which protected them a bit. I'm happy with my aluminum ladder, though it's much too heavy for me anymore--bad back. I need to get a fiberglass ladder. When I was in my teens and early twenties, I used to climb buildings for fun. Once, me and some friends snuck into the football stadium--I climbed a lighting tower. Another time, we found an iron ladder on the outside of a university building, with pavement below and no cage. We climbed it to the roof five or so stories up, but found a door and the stairs to go back, because we weren't quite stupid enough to take further chances. I like watching Fred...even at my boldest, I wasn't nearly so confident.
Fred was a true legend don't forget he had to put those ladders up there then remove them when he was finished biggest set of balls in the UK God rest his soul.
I was thinking through the video, "someone had a worse job putting the ladders there in the first place". That would probably be even more hair-raising to watch.
An old guy carpenter showed me a picture where he was working on a church steeple, around 110’ high. He had ladders set up sorta like Fred did, only difference, they were all old WOOD extension ones tied together with hemp ropes. Old construction workers had balls of steel, yet on the other hand, had to do what they had to, to get the job done. No JLG boom lifts back in the 1920’s.
Whenever I’m feeling low about working from home, I watch this. This man had the biggest balls in the UK. No safety lines or equipment, just experience. Just confidence in what he was doing. Just watching this is a work out.
@@malcolmcanning548 the builders.... but I think you're missing the joke, by stones he was referring to the guys testicles, he was saying the guy had huge balls to climb up there like that. If you didn't get that joke then I guess you have been R/Whooshed
Yes sure here in the uk but in lot of 3rd world countries, literally million of peoples work like fred even in 2024 or doing more dangerous work, no surprise a few thousands of fatal accidents happening per year and nowadays there is gore footage on reddit and another web sites.
I cannot express how much admiration I have for this man. Utterly fearless. When he said "They reckon some of the stones up here weigh 5 tonnes", he means people on the ground referring to the size of his balls. Just extraordinary bravery, strength and skill. Don't be fooled by the carefree demeanour....you didn't survive in that trade unless you knew *exactly* what you were doing, and he clearly did. A master steeplejack for the ages. 🙏🤜👌
Yeah it's crazy seeing him actually ladder the stacks using each section to add the next, shifty as fuck but he loved it. And guys honestly no matter how used to it you get now and again chatting to yourself does was the fact your kissing death in the face. I've been on big buildings a roofer etc and yeah it gets to you at times even after doing it years
@@adamturner2836 I worked with a bricklayer in his late 60s for about 6 years. Old school fella. We don't have any stacks around here but I've been up the side of a few tall buildings. That chatter distracts you from thinking about the risk, while your'e talking about what your'e doing your are inadvertently also paying better attention.
@@adamturner2836 Since the bottom ladder has to hold the weight of all the subsequent ladders on top of it, I wonder if he ever figured the limit of height he can ladder. I would think it would be limited by the weight the bottom ladder can hold. I know they are also pegged to the building and that takes some weight off but not much. He's lucky none of his pegs ever came out. He knew how and where to hammer them in, but still, you can never 100% guarantee the stone will hold all your pegs, especially that ladder that angled upside-down!
@@Codzilla71 Him talking to himself is being Northern lol. And probably a few jars. You don't get nerves when you've been doing it since a kid, you get balls.
Climbing that chimney is one thing. Putting up all those ladders with only one helper on the ground is just mind boggling especially on those overhangs. Fred was definitely one a kind.
There were lots of Steeplejacks back then, you used to hear about them, see them, sometimes read about them dying from falling off, but they didn't have a camera crew with them. The other thing that made him more interesting than other Steeplejacks was his interest in steam and in restoring engines, which gave him a good career also on TV presenting those as well. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Yxh78diK1Mc.html
There were plenty of good Steeplejacks around. In fact Fred Dibnah was thrown out of the Steeplejacks and lightning conductor installers Federation for bringing the industry into disrepute. He was also cited by HSE for various failed demolitions and buildings left in dangerous condition. What you see of Fred is glamourised by TV but some of the things he got up to were terrible examples of working methods.
@@PreservationEnthusiast thank you for the correction - libel/slander/defamation - whatever you want to call it. The point is that there are too many of these comments on RU-vid (and social media in general) without evidence. When you say ‘look it up on the net’ you immediately lose credibility and become a troll. I have looked and cannot find any of the aforementioned. Maybe you can enlighten us?
Remarkable. On the surface, Fred was a jolly and easy-going chap but underneath he was a superbly skilled calculating machine: He instinctively knew the right weather, wind conditions and personal health. He completely put aside any what-ifs and maybes. Fred also fine-tuned his confidence. He probably had a certain level of fear - it kept him alive, and he knew that above a certain height (maybe 30 feet), a fall would kill anyway. Personally, I get shaky standing on a triple ladder!
As Terry Pratchett pointed out in one of his discworld novels, there's no point being afraid of heights, be afraid of the ground because it's the ground that kills you.
@@tricky778 A commercial pilot I once knew said the same, but in a slightly different way: "I like flying as high as possible - it provides the time for me to think of a solution to an issue!"
I've never climbed this high up, but I work in deadly heights daily and you sort of get used to it after a while You still feel uneasy but it stops bothering and hindering you and you just focus on getting the job done
Let's be honest, how many of you were like me and actually felt nervous just watching this legend? I was okay at ladders and heights when younger but nothing like this and that overhang...are you kidding me? A truly remarkable man, one of a kind! RIP Fred.
David Farmer Exactly, if you have no fear of heights all you are doing is climbing up a fixed ladder. Hardly comparable to rock climbing, my neighbour is a roofer still working at 72 years old climbing up on people's roofs and the occasional church spire to do repair work. And yes he didn't treat his wives very well, he'd not really have wanted to be born in the mid Victorian age as all this was new stuff then, and being an uneducated man he'd have been working 18hr days and no time for hobbies, tin bath after work then off to bed, dead at 45 years old, and if he did have kids half of them would have died in infancy. Good times
That man is a LEGEND I remember watching his programme when I was a kid , I am north of 50 now myself . Fred Dibnah represents all that was good about Britain, his character , hard work ethic , easy going presenting style , love of British engineering heritage, a genuine genuine guy and someone the country could be proud of ...he was not rare back in the day many Brits were like him ...sadly all gone now replaced by "reality" stars like Jordan ,Those Towie idiots, and Geordie Shore nobodys Kim Kardashian the list is endless ...how things have changed for the worse in my opinion in television land and the world in general..
Shad ow could not have said it better myself.. Kim k is famous for having a fat arse. The world is going to shit started in America first now its in Europe and I'm not for being racist its all ethnic groups won't fame for fuck all. These skills Fred had were real. Topman. ..
@@borntoclimb7116 Well the tallest in the UK is 259 m the one he is climbing is around 91m tall, different materials of course and shape etc and not as good looking :) but yeah likely not costing tens of millions
@@borntoclimb7116 Yes, they are expensive to build and would no doubt be very expensive to recreate the chimney he was climbing, but we have much different materials now and they do not cost tens of millions AFAIK
Maybe not, but balls are few and far between in this none gender world where people call themselves what they want, then ask the rest of us to believe it.
Oh how times have changed Fred, you certainly had the best of it. Jack of all trades and master of all of them. RIP lad, thy's cemented your legacy with style and true grit.
Went to see this chimney on Saturday after visiting Fred's Grave, House and his Mothers House to see the chimney he had built there, while on a wee tour of Wales, Scotland and England for a week. I would have very much loved to have met and spoken to the man when he was still alive, but alas. I still had a few words at the grave side. Came across him first on the tv a good twenty odd years ago, and enjoyed all the series of programmes he was involved in, an extremely knowledgeable guy and so interesting to listne to plus his delivery was second to none. I returned home to Ireland after my visit to some of the places he had been, and was very happy I had done so.
The most skilled and confident person climbing buildings I ever did see. Every single movement unharnessed on those exposed heights there is the chance for a fatal error to occur. Death is staring him in the face. But Fred just stares back and gets on with it - doing commentary, coughing, doing exercises, whistling a tune, analysing the architecture. His courage and skill are off the scale.
It's weird. My dad is like this with heights. I am not at all comfortable with them lol. He used to work on smokestacks. He'd climb to the top of some trees at home just to show us he could. Like... I dunno. As much as we do share genetically, I didn't get any of that.
I do remember they had us climb a 30 foot ladder to clean silo filters once at a factory around 10 years ago. That was the first time I ever even climbed that high. The ladder was built onto it and completely sturdy and stable but it was straight up. I had never climbed that high nor a ladder that went straight up. I found out halfway up that I was using my arms instead of my legs lol.. but I changed my "style" and finished it and didn't tell anyone. A thunderstorm came while we were inside of it. Factory workers are dumb for the most part. "Here's the safest place you could be." Yeah, sure, inside of a metal silo during a massive thunderstorm. I didn't go back the next day. Was working 7 days a week/12 hours a day anyways. Screw that. For 2 months I was told it was just temporary. For 2 months I did 12 hours a day/7 days a week. Seriously... screw that. I feel bad for the guys that think some job like that is all they can do. Don't waste your life.
@@JustAGuy85 you soft git, they were telling you the truth, you were safe in that metal silo during the thunderstorm, I promise! Any lightning striking the silo would be dissisipated around you and straight to ground, nobody inside the container gets shocked. This is why lightning strikes vehicles including planes without killing the occupants. Cheer up x
FraZzLe DaZzLe was a wonderful guy. Remember a story when he done an after dinner talk to dentists. He was offered all his dental work perpetually or £200. £200 quid Please he replied, that will buy me new pliers and I could use em for work too ! Absolute genius and a gentleman. Also I swear to god he had a part time job strangling gorillas: his hands were enormous and trust me he was an extremely mild mannered man, but utterly fearless. Miss him x RIP steeplejack Dibnah x
I was gobsmacked watching this. However as an ex-rock climber he could have had running ropes along the ladder to which he could have attached himself using a prusik knot and a harness. It would have arrested a fall. Even so, no way could I do what he did.
Fred was the epitome of a real true English man who was a true master of his craft and a real down to earth gentle man who can never be betterd. One in 10 billion. Cannot be replaced or forgotten ever. REST IN PEACE FRED OLD FRIEND. I REMEMBER U FROM OUR MEET AT UR HOUSE LOOKING AT UR LATEST STEAM PROJECT ..
My dad is in the same mould as Fred, luckily he's still with us, he's 80 now and has gone blind but I could sit listening to his tails and his wisdom all day long. I realise he may not be around much longer, but while he is alive I'm gonna cherish every moment with him
I am a South African, and became aware of Fred during the lockdown. I watched every series that he had a part in. How i whished i could have met him. If somebody wants to have a go at the English it is prudent to keep in mind that this type of tenacity is sprinkled throughout the pale tea-drinkers🤔
I never tire of watching Fred Dibnah. There will certainly never be another man like him. He was unassuming, really clever, balls of steel, and an ultimate grafter. I mean honestly, even if you could get anyone to climb one of them chimneys, how many of them would knock a chimney down brick by brick. He was awesome.
The man is a Legend, totally fearless and remember he did this to earn a living for his family before the film cameras came. It makes me anxious just watching. Fred you have my eternal respect. RIP
They were all Fred's own ladders...he chiselled holes in the chimney, and secured all the ladders with rope...an amazing feat in itself....all done by himself!!....a true unpretentious northerner...you know...the type that forged an empire!...
Nonsense man! The likes of George Osborne and his ilk that can hold 7 jobs AND their lucrative rewards are the type that can "FORGE" an empire . With the stroke of a pen . (Anyone see what I did there?)
How is he staying attached to the ladder on the overhang 4:18 surely gravity would try and bring your legs back vertical. The camera shows how high he is but even then i dont think it does it justice. If you had a camera looking directly down from the top that would really make people shit themselves.
Ha-ha that overhang is something. His hands are just casually on the outer ladder, my hands would be gripped tightly on each rung with a harness on lol. Getting back on the overhang to come back down would be even worse as you have to come down backwards.
That’s one hell of a climb with cold hands and no safety lines, those 5ft overhangs are crazy..Fred was one hell of a man though, tough as nails and a multi talented, proper grafter.. what a legend.
Im a yorkshireman but have no shame in saying its true lancashire grit like this that made our country great! Too few of these northern nutcases left in our world these days! I hope freds family are doing well!
@Marc Phelan The Greco-Egyptian scientist Ptolemy referred to the larger island as great Britain (μεγάλη Βρεττανία megale Brettania) and to Ireland as little Britain (μικρὰ Βρεττανία mikra Brettania) in his work Almagest (147-148 AD).
No harness, no gloves, jack boots, terrifying overhangs and totally exposed... Fred had pure guts and amazing confidence... a lot of kudos is given to free climbers who don’t use ropes a dozen or so times in their careers... Fred didn’t use ropes for decades!
What’s more astonishing than a man of his age climbing up there with no safety is he put all the ladders up himself as well. A man with balls like coconuts
I do scaffold for a living have been for 17 years the highest ive been is 240 feet the limit on scaffold to build is 300 feet....fred is one tough man hats off to u people do not realize how tough it is to climb that high how much strength and energy u need...then u still have to work when u get up there and then climb down when u done...much respect for the great fred hats off to u and a pint in the air for u Fred
@@countdublevay7327 ok good for you ,were do I sign in for some privileges though?seems to me very little was ever privileged my way ,pretty much worked for my keep,so I still don't get your sentiment exept for it's your imagination
Sweat pouring out of my palms, and my legs have gone watching this. That man......if this was all he did, he would be a legend, but he did way way more.......a huge knowledge of engineering, master draughtsman, historian, contructed a working coalmine in his back garden, traction engine renovator....and tv presenter. He must have been incredibly fit....his core strength is phenomenal. All those years of working with sooty bricks, oil, grease and coal dust did for him....for Fred, eating a sandwich with black coal dust hands was normal. Health and Safety was unheard of....and it cost him his life through bladder cancer. A really extraordinary life. Had this series of tv programmes not bought him to a wider audience, his extraordinary life and knowledge may never have been appreciated by anyone outside Bolton. His love of Industrial Britain and his fearlessness help to define why Britain became the global hub it was....a truly extraordinary man.
@@christophestuyvaert8181 doubt it's cold fingers with all that blood pumping but possibly. .he would definitely have lactic acid with his arms above his head as pulling up climbing.
@@sarahcox9284 thank You sarah.. he was boltons finest...followed him from his very early days on tv...must visit his house one day...and oh..are you boltons very own sara cox...lol..x
Look at how fast and hard the wind is moving that flag. It takes some serious balls to free hand climb a ladder that high under those conditions. This man was truly an amazing human being and an English treasure. Every school child in Western society should be made to watch this man work.
Oh, Really - An English treasure?? Where was England when his machine shop was being knocked down, the machinery, boilers, engines and tools being sold like toys. Where was England when the contents of his house, half of which he built, were auctioned off and scattered like chaff in the wind. Where was England when the demonstration mine pit and mine head machinery were demolished and removed without any trace? England had forgotten all about Fred Dibnah. His time was twice passed in 1890 and in 2018 when all traces of his lifetime works were obliterated from the earth. England didn't care enough to put his estate in trust for preservation. There should have been restraints oon what could be done just as is the practice for "Listed" buildings. There are plenty of "Heritage" sites. The estate could have been in the care of his 2 sons with an oversight committee - just as for other historical places. But no - As is the rule today it is all talk and no action. Nothing, outside of the ill fated efforts of 1 guy, was done to assure that Fred's amazing workshop and traditional tools remained as functional institutions, just as has been done with other places. It didn't have to be restored - it was fully functional in 2004 when he died. All the weeping and wailing about his passing and all he stood for are aligator tears - NO ONE lifted a finger to preserve his heritage - HIS heritage, no some company. His workshop and two steam machines were all rebuilt by him - not to mention every machine tool he owned. - All gone All you stout Englishment had the chance to save it - TWICE - and you did nothing.
+Jimmy Twigg - Thank you. Many people knew Fred that honor should go to them. I only wish I have the honor and privilege of meeting that man. It would have been my first pint and time well spent. As a child I knew a man like him. Too sadly I never knew his worth at that time. Frd was unusual, self taught or not he mastered everything he touched. All too soon was he snatched from this life and so much more he had to give. If I am his champion, no better man could I have chosen.
@@organbuilder272 I agree with you my friend here in Malta it is the same problem we have a lot of very old machinery in our water pumping stations they are being thrown away for scrap when I talked to our cultural minister about it to save them for posterity he told me there is nothing he can do!!!!!!!!!!!! Our countries are being run by a bunch of idiots:-(
@@johnhili8664 @John Hili - There is something you can do - Grab it. Get some people together and buy it at scrap value - Better yet start a public campaign. You have the web to help you. Certainly you are not the only one who feels unhappy about the destruction of historic buildings, machinery, and processes. Historic preservation is important. Dig in, take your cause to the public and it will succeed.
Sends my Vertigo into overdrive every time I watch this! In His 50's, smoked, enjoyed a pint and can do a 300ft vertical ladder climb with 2 5ft overhangs to negotiate, balls of steel!!! Max respect to a real man, sadly missed, not many like him left now
Just watching Fred climb it is in itself incredible. The fact he attached all those ladders is yet more impressive. Even more impressive is the fact the chimney was built to that size and scale in the 19th century in the first place. Human engineering and grey matter amongst these phenomenal men is astonishing
@@MichaelGallagher97 they did have to worry about the bricks, mortar, and reputation lost for failure if there's a partial collapse. Loss of those things is expensive.
The health and safety at work act was in place back then, still the main piece of legislation governing health and safety, he's doing it himself and would still be legal today
I’m a retired painter been on ladders over 50yrs, I could walk up a ladder with paint In one hand, and brush in the other without holding on.. I thought I was a cocky bastad until I seen Fred on TV, I never missed an episode and I remember seeing this one it’s never left my mind because of those two overhangs.. your body weight feels 3 times as heavy on that ladder going up that angle !! Fred was a master tradesmen, he could do anything... there’s none like him. RIP Fred ..
I used to work in a warehouse, and I was shitting it carrying a Dyson down from 30 foot up with one hand holding on, Christ knows how he taught his brain to tolerate this. Fred is an absolute legend, remember watching these with my Nan back in the day.
Fred was thrown out of the Steeplejacks federation for bringing the industry into disrepute. As for boasting of climbing ladders with no hands, you are irresponsible.
@@PreservationEnthusiast no I don’t like people who are fantasists and overcome with jealousy and try to rubbish a great mans achievements! You need to get rid of your Demons and be more positive your are coming across as a complete tosser!
This is the sort of thing that keeps you sitting on the edge of the chair, Not tv soaps, that mans courage is 10 times taller than that tower,what a fella..r.i.p.dear,fred.
Yes so much better than the grotty soaps which are just degenerating society, not to mention the dire shit they put on TV during Saturday evenings, so glad I no longer own a TV.
The level of strength and fitness to climb that plus the overhangs. Unbelievable effort and Fred was not 20 years old at the time plus he smoked. Just amazing. I just could not do it at all. Hats off to you Fred 👍👍👍👍👍👍
That man was one of the most loveable, funny, interesting and charismatic people ever to appear on TV. Loved watching him whether it was scaling horrifyingly tall chimneys or working on his beloved traction/steam engines. Definitely one of a kind. RIP Mr Dibnah xx
I met Fred once, he was lost looking for a feller with some bits for his Landie in Lymm, Cheshire. We dragged him into our office for a brew and were thoroughly star struck, this would have been in about 1994. He immediately set about chatting up the prettiest girl in the office....
Jiminy Christmas, my legs go wobbly just watching this. Fred must have had nuts of steel. No safety gear, just wanders around up there like he was taking a walk in the park. English legend. RIP.
Loved Fred, he lived in the next town to me, he enjoyed a pint of tets (Tetley Best Bitter) and I had the pleasure of having a pint and a chat with him in Bolton pub one afternoon..
The thought of having to step off the edge to climb back down... Holy shit I would be crying and having a panic attack at absolute minimum if I was up there. Fred is an absolute boss.
Especially climbing down at a backward angle. There is no way in hell I could even imagine having to do that. Yes, I understand he's been doing this for a long time...but one slip up and that's it. Truly amazing man...
DEMOCRACY is a system, whereby 51% tell 49% where to GO! The Truth about DEMOCRACY: Capital City, LONDON, is now less than 45% WHITE BRITISH! Groups with a coherent identity; primarily Muslim, will follow the edicts of their IMAMS, however that conflicts with the Host Cultural Identity. As Demographics cause them to become dominant, the Indigenous population will become Annihilated.
@@alexhayden2303 Utter bullshit. How the fuck do you shoehorn your ignorant racism into a video about an old man climbing a chimney? Hackney has one of the largest immigrant populations in the UK. It's still over 50% Caucasian. I'm guessing you've never even visited London.
@@berniebasset9465 How far has Britain gone down the Drain? VICTORIA LINE 50 years! Look carefully at the London crowds: Constructing the VICTORIA LINE British material, British labour and Brains. An extraordinary project. Above and below, no more than 6 total, non white Europeans to be seen. 30 years later, I, a London WASP on a North London bus, was in a Minority! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-GwRRSJ_wtIg.html
I live 1mile away from his home. The local council never brought his house/tools to keep as a museum. Very shameful. Fred will go down in history. Bless thy.
