Fred Dibnah Website

[theninesisters]

When Fred Dibnah passed away, I contacted Shelia (his good wife) to see if she would like a free website dedicated to Fred - my hero.

She thanked me very much for the offer but had already taken up the offer elsewhere and work was in progress.

Due to lots of legal issues where Sheila was taken out of the will, booted out of Fred's home and finding herself very down after losing Fred, she started to talk about him at various nights and wanted a website to show what she was up to, and how she was working hard to keep Fred's name alive.

It was then she contacted me during this week to ask if the offer still stood, and keeping to my word, I have produced a small website for her to help her in her quest.

You can view the website here: www.fredtalks.co.uk

[shytalk]

Great Jona, I've been a Fred fan for years, I kept his TV series of his tour and still watch it.:PDT_Aliboronz_24:

[robbo176]

very impressive Jona well done :handclap::handclap::handclap:

[Gnomie]

I Love It:PDT11:):handclap:

[theninesisters]

Cheers guys!

Got the video all working too now on the welcome page! :PDT11

[lindylou]

I used to love watching the Fred Dibnah tv series.

[snappel]

Why was she taken out of the will? What's her relationship with Fred's sons?

[Cadfael]

Gutted to hear that Fred Dibnah's former home is going up for Auction. Fred always wanted this to be a working work-shop for everyone to come and visit. Nice to see the City Council getting their greedy mitts on the sale.

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff183/cadfael1976/P1050045.jpg

[caterina]

It is with sadness i hear that Freds home is to be sold he was such a talented man so modest i think a big mistake is being made. His place should be kept as a working museum shame on the council i say.....



caterina.....

[Cadfael]

http://www.mmauction.co.uk/list/details.php?id_files=859

Blood on anyone's hands buying this purely for profit out of Freds name. Just spoken to Fred's wife about this and I cannot print the reply.

I never thought I'd see the day when the City Council would profit from that chap's name.

[Diane]

I loved Fred Dibnah ! I happen to live in Bolton and drive past his house nearly every day ! its an incredible property, very unusual. Its such a shame that its going to auction. God knows who'll buy it...

Funnily enough i was in the local cemetery yesterday and saw Fred's grave. He's got 3 caps there, an old boot, a rusty spanner and a can of Guinness, aw bless him. he was a national treasure our Fred and as down to earth as they come ! Many a time i used to see him on his Steamroller down Bury Road !

RIP Fred :)

[Cadfael]

His 5 children are selling it to raise capital, which I think is a shame seeing as both the lads Jack and Roger must have had some happy times there.

I just hope the person that buys it will not mess around with anything, sell things on for a profit or take down any of the workings. It's a really sad event really.

[caterina]

I only hope some one with money and sympathy will buy freds oldplace he was a national treasure a real character too few of these now days sadly i am afraid or am i just old fashioned ?


caterina..

[melangell]

It's a terrible shame to think of everything there going to waste when so much graft and perfectionism and hard work went into it - terrifying to think that one day yours or my possessions which have meant such a lot may be sold or thrown out as if the life they were part of also meant nothing.
Fred was a great bloke - not "fashionable" in these ultra pc times, but someone whose straight talking enthusiasm won the hearts of millions.
Unfairly looked down on by some snobs who think if you are working class and get your hands dirty, then you mustn't have a brain either.
I thought he was ruddy great, and it saddens me to see things turn out like this and the risk of a lifetime's achievements being lost.

[caterina]

Hi Melangell yes i agree with everything you have said cos he was working class looked down on i tell you this he was worth a lot more than these jumped up hooray henreys who purport to be what they ain,t and at least Fred was true to himself . I am proud to be working class at least we call a spade a spade..


caterina.....

[lindylou]

I think he was a very interesting and knowledgeable man. I would watch the repeats of his series any time.

[Cadfael]

When I created www.fredtalks.co.uk for Sheila, I got a lovely letter back which is now framed as it was official letterheaded paper that Fred used!

[Diane]

When I created www.fredtalks.co.uk for Sheila, I got a lovely letter back which is now framed as it was official letterheaded paper that Fred used!

What a wonderful website that is ! im sure Fred would have been proud ! youve even got a piccy of the Bolton Town Hall - where i work ! :) well done !

[Cadfael]

What a wonderful website that is ! im sure Fred would have been proud ! youve even got a piccy of the Bolton Town Hall - where i work ! :) well done !

Cheers Chuck. I spoke to Sheila at length and made up my own mind that she wasn't the money grabbing woman that the press makes her out to be. Tirelessly working to promote Fred's name, she has no claim on the estate and has had to pay lots of legal bills so isn't exactly flush with money at the moment. She wanted to ask how much I would charge her and I told her I would do it as a thank you to Fred who gave me hours of entertainment from his TV and DVD's appearances.

When it was all done, I got a lovely package containing a thank you card, another thank you on official Fred's letterheaded paper and a rare book on Fred signed by Sheila, and all the crew from the last series Fred was involved in (Jimmy Crooks, Alf and the TV producers).

Made up!

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff183/cadfael1976/fred.jpg

[Diane]

wow ! great stuff !

[Cadfael]

Got a very limited edition from Sheila (fred's widow) for my Christmas present. Limited number and I was 0009!

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh67/cadfael2008/fred.jpg

[lindylou]

That's great :handclap: what a smashing gift :)

[robbo176]

thats a lovely gift Cad :PDT_Piratz_26:

[Cadfael]

My Fred Dibnah has now been extensively redesigned and can be found at:

www.fredtalks.co.uk

:PDT11

[snappel]

Sorry, but I don't like that woman at all. If Fred was one thing, he was sharp. He's not the sort to 'forget' to include someone in a will, especially when he only changed it two weeks beforehand. If his widow respected him, and his wishes, she wouldn't be fighting to try and get money from his children.

I can't help but think she's doing all this to support her 'case'.

[Cadfael]

Sorry, but I don't like that woman at all. If Fred was one thing, he was sharp. He's not the sort to 'forget' to include someone in a will, especially when he only changed it two weeks beforehand. If his widow respected him, and his wishes, she wouldn't be fighting to try and get money from his children.

I can't help but think she's doing all this to support her 'case'.

That's not how it is. I've recently been in contact with a respected Steam Boiler chap who was one of Fred's best friends and only appeared once on his DVD's as he's no interest in the 'limelight' so to speak.

We got talking about Fred and Sheila and discussed a few things and he said that from the horses mouth, Fred was very ill at the end, and many people who thought they were Fred's best friend at the end were hangers on. Combined with him fighing cancer and not all there from the effects of Morphine, he was confused in to changing his will just 3 days before he passed away. The people that were his so called friends got him to sign everything to his Children only which he did.

Those friends then buggered off and that was the last they saw - how many people do you see drinking champers in a hospital ward after getting their way?

Speak to Jimmy Crooks, Alf Molyneux - Fred's real friends who will tell you a very different story.

If Fred had thought nothing of Sheila in the first place, then he wouldn't have tried every trick in the book to find her address. She only came down to his yard as she knew a local friend and got chatting, Fred thought she was nice and did all he could to chase her.

The press make the standard story of cutting her out of his will, but I've spoke to many of Fred's real mates to know the different side.

[Cadfael]

Added a new movie for the intro page:

www.fredtalks.co.uk