Possibly the most heartbreaking video of them all - without him this was just a garden. All that energy and exuberance gone, replaced with rusty iron and faded paint. Traction engines, literally the heart and soul of a man just lay dead to the world, devoid of non-ferrous - let alone Brasso.
the one shot that relly gets to me is the long rod in the vice a project fred wa working on before he died and never got back to it or did someone put it there for a picture shoot
Fred was a big part of my teenage years. Would sit watching him with my late Dad - who thought Fred was the bee's knee's and a 100% genuine character. What a loss to this country when he left us. Looking around his workshop was like looking at the treasures and life's work of a recently departed close family member. Very emotive video. Thanks for sharing it with us.
looking at this its a shame what's happened to Fred's collection of workshop tools becaue the owners of his home could'nt return the workshop to steam again because they couldn't rise the money for a new boiler to replace the one that Fred had used
This is sad to see it's not an open museum dedicated to Fred. I can't believe his Land Rover & steam engines are there rotting away. Can't the National Trust buy it? Thank you for sharing this.
Watching this you almost expect to hear his voice , they don’t make em like Fred anymore or will we see the likes again , I watch his stuff over and over and never get tired of it , RIP FRED
After watching this it really brings it home what an enormous hole he's left behind, because there hasn't been anyone that's even come close to taking his place. He was a real inspiration and a great character. Thanks for making this video and posting it here -Bloody gutting though... :(
well i can truthfully tell you that there is not much will make a 40 year old guy cry, But watching this video and thinking what a great guy the world lost that sad day will do it. Fred if your looking down on us we miss you!. You touched many lives you would never meet.
This just like first boss.s place he past around the same time his coats are still hanging the door was closed never opened again I go up just have a look around 😔
Fred’s workshop looked like a mad scientists laboratory. Which it kind of was when you think about it. The collection of tools and machinery is a testimony to Fred’s brilliance. I’m in America here and have become a big fan of Fred Dibnah. His magic has reached me across an ocean. May this great Brit Rest In Peace.
His lonely vice still holding some work, waiting for Fred. It does make one sad and feel the grave. I wonder what will happen to my shop and tools when the day comes and I don't show up to work. I don't suppose it matters. When I cleaned out dad's garage after he passed it was like looking through his eyes. I knew stuff I was tossing meant something to him. He knew which bucket held the fawcet washers and where to locate the spare mower parts. Man he had a lot of stuff.
Nicely put 505. So so sad. Fred apparently said to his mate when received his dark diagnosis that he can't die yet because he has so many projects to finish! This thought has never left my mind. RIP Fred. 👍🏻🔨
Very sad to see that his passing caused so much bitterbess(as is often the case) I’m guessing that they’re was/is plenty of enthusiasts that would have kept his workshop ALIVE!! Such a gentleman. I’ve seen everything he’s ever done 3/4 times and will watch again. TIMELESS ❤️❤️❤️ RIP FRED-
I can see freds soul is still there, he was more real than life its self. love and lived life to the full and his way. maks me feel VERY SAD watching this, in a way, never met the man, but i have respect for him. RIP FRED, OLD SCHOOL.
Fascinating collection of Fred's engineering projects, equiptment and tools. A blast back to a lot of stuff seen in my engineering days. An amazing character. A 'one off'. Been a fan since his early TV steeplejacking coverage. Just noted that it is 10 years, to the day, that he passed away (6th November). Sad. Thanks for filming this.
Sadly poignant, especially for those of us who are of Fred's era. All of those tools and implements of his trade and hobby, neatly ordered in happy chaos - every one of then cared for and awaiting another lifetime or two of service, given the chance of falling into sympathetic and appreciative hands. But, life goes on and the graveyards are full of indispensable people. Cheers to your memory, Fred. Col, NZ.
Usually the silence of a deserted place gets to you, but this time I can't help not hearing the steam and Fred saying a nice story trough them puffs. Glad to see his Land Rover is kept running and MOT 😃.
It really is So sad to see our life's work will just be abandoned when we do leave this earth i cant believe the most gifted amazing human beings place fed Dibnahs Home now i bet fred never thought this would be the way it would have been I also feel really upset to see his place in this state he was a proud man of his home I suppose like most of us but he was one of a kind an amazing human been when his documentaries came on tv that was me done glued and couldn't wait for the next episode he is someone I think we will never see the kind of again appsaluly amazing man he done his hometown of Bolton so so proud and the amazing akcent appsaluly perfect class As the saying goes (DID YEA LIKE THA) brilliant plus he did all over Britain and beyond so proud what a gentleman and a truly brave person really brave climbing those 250 to 300 ft chimneys hard working man God bless Fred Dibnah in heaven May he rest in peace
It’s sad ,one mans hobby drawing in ‘everyone’ by his appreciation of a bygone era of steam and all the enthusiasm he had showing off these beautiful machines in full working order in his own back yard now abandoned .....life is short !Fred we miss your character and your play around but luckily we have you on film!!!! Sad though to see your lives work being taken back by nature,eventually all sold off and gone, just as you are...... RIP Fred - hope your enjoying playing wherever you are,the world is a sadder place without you. 😉👍👏👏👏👏👏🏴
So sad, i come to the U.K. since a very long time. I've seen boats with very care restored and floating again. i've seen bridges that have been named, and a short while ago i saw a video of a man named Fred Dibnah. I'm a belgian, however i'm britisch minded. I just feel so sad that Fred 's machines and stuff, is not in some kind of a museum. On the otherhand here in Belgium, we have no feeling with industrial history, everything has to make place for the progress in the future.
Not much into steam engines and all that 'gubbings' but Fred had a lot of bottle climbing up those chimneys 200 plus feet high. what a man. wonder how his x wife made out with the discotheques rather than being by his side ?
@@andybaldman After the heritage centre closed & with his tractor engines & landrover sold off (his son got Betsy following a legal dispute within the family & ex wife/s). The new owner of the house sold everything else off that was left to make a quick buck. Since then another owner came along & whats left is just an empty shell. 2021 > ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-f6gG-I4h0oI.html
He was very special man Fred sad see his things way they are his friends who worked with him everyday must miss him more than anyone respect to you all lads
Absolute bloody disgrace that Fred’s legacy was allowed to be broken up and the rest left to go into disrepair.I know that they tried with the heritage Center,but this should have become a working museum.In memory of a great Man.There was no one like him,I am glad that I/we,at least have his videos to watch.God,do I wish that I had had the wherwithal to purchase his home lock stock and Barrel.It would have never been let go,and would have remained a part of British Heritage.
You Brits should be ashamed of yourselves for letting such a legends remains go to waist...he did so much ..not to mention BBC documentaries..I quess hes not needed any more..if I had money I would of bought the lot and preserved into a museum.RIP Fred.
It's a heritage site and has been for over a decade. Edit: I stand corrected. It was closed in 2017, to be sold off in 2018 as the owner was retiring at age 70 and couldn't find a buyer for the museum - still can't it seems its still up for sale as of May 2020. www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/fred-dibnahs-iconic-bolton-home-22001486
So very upsetting to.see all Fred's world so silent and still..A pipe in a vice left by Fred with work to do on it. Fred's white jacket hanging wer he left it for the last time waiting to be worn again by him.Very very sad to see the great mans life now sitting quiet waiting for the vultures to swoop and sell it all off for a few pounds.English heritage should be ashamed of itself for not buying Fred's home and all the goods property as is complete and saving it for the nation as should have been done. Now Fred's tools lifes works are gone far and wide never to be reunited as one. Rest in peace old friend of many. This world has lost a Father of learning and is now a void of emptiness for many millions who loved Fred for being Just Fred...never to be forgotten by Fred's many friend followers .
He surely made his mark on this world.It will take someone very Special to keep all this alive and around for them to teach the next generation.Gis son is doing a great job with the steam engine :)
A very sad video of a special man who loved steam,he was and still is a gift to us all,but why was it allowed to go like this and get into this state ? when Sheila held up Freds cherished jumper it was as if he was there,a lost opportunity to honour someone so special and entertained us for so many years.
Then up to 16 yr later the place was getting ransacked, copper & brass stolen from the engines an absolute disgrace, they have now been professionally removed. RIP Fred.
how can this of not have been 'turned' in to a business - guest house. and maintained the life of a British hero. some kind of respectful point of interest to the nation, a museum - and as fred commented more than once "this is probably the only working steam workshop for miles-un-miles, around here - ya nar, not a bit of it powdered by electricity. Not that i've got owt to dislike about electricity, most of it in this country comes from steam any how - ya nar" say's alot about that leggy wife and his children? what a legacy to let run out of steam... *whistle blows*
It's a great shame the steam engines are not in the sheds now but the new guy that is there now keeps the place similar to Fred style the new video is on you tube 😎🇬🇧
@@JeffBeresford Its just an empty shell now though, everything that could be sold has been to make a quick buck by the owners. Its been gutted. 2021 > ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-f6gG-I4h0oI.html
i dont know how this could have happened to a pure legand like fred his home and his back yard should have been kept just like it was i wish i could have been in a position to purchase it i wouldn't have changed a thing RIP MATE
The really sad news is that the heritage site is closing for good (2017) and will be put up for sale, lock,stock & barrell, hopefully the new owner will keep it as it is.
Chris Hulse ....what a surprise pffft. ......the second wife had her eyes on a nice little earner first time she saw him on TV and became 'interested' in steam engines, got him reeled in, popped two out, and bingo.....bet she still gets royalties today from TV repeats, etc.
Bury district council should be ashamed of themselves!...They should get their hands in there pockets ,and spend some of the brass that they have got stashed away for building more mosques!!!.
It's bizarre to think his family particularly his boys didn't care enough to preserve this. Really makes you scratch your head. They must have not felt the same way about his life.
I had an open to the elements work table in the yard under the tree & was most productive with a gal mesh top to allow leaves etc from tree above to not hang around & little danger from grinding with 9 inch grinder to ignite an fuel fire other than spraying regular neighbours house windows with hot sparks which would't made their cleaning clothes catch a bit . . learn't the habits of certain birds in the tropics who inhabited that mango tree above work table namely the Torres Strait pigeon & Rosella parrot small . . both breeds took to regular trying to intentional crap on me from above when I was working below . . the fruit bats did the same but when night started to fall
