look at this loaded Land Rover! Thanks Stephen! Fred Dibnah, one of the few living legends in his own time, Fred was one of the last industrial age engineers, and lived just long enough to get into making tv shows that showed his love and enthusiasm for engineering, architecture, and history (like Guy Martin)

Fred Dibnah was an English steeplejack and television personality, with a keen interest in mechanical engineering, and traction engines.

He restored them for pete's sake. Look at this beauty!

On his return from National Service in 1962 Dibnah retrieved his tools from storage, bought a 1927 350 cc AJS motorcycle for 21 guineas and looked for more work. Bolton, however, was in the midst of post-industrial decline; between 1957 and 1965 about 70 mills were closed in the town, leaving only 37 mills operational and about 50 disused.[20] Initially he was unable to find much work and existed on smaller, domestic jobs, until he earned enough to buy his own set of ladders and secured his first commission while working at a local mill.

Here's just one video of Fred on the ladders, notice his Land Rover in the background



He was very enthusiastic about his work, and it ruined two of his marriages. He was more interested in his job and hobby, that he didn't take time to vacation with his wife and kids. That didn't go well with his wives.



thanks to Signizmz for the link to this video!

He often was out at traction engine displays and parades, though once his brakes failed, and he had to bin it into a wall to safely bring it to a stop without crashing into anything more expensive or risking the lives of onlookers, he just instantly made the best choice

http://forums.canadiancontent.net/showthread.php?t=96638

In mid-2000, Dibnah was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Technology for his achievement in engineering by Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, and in 2004 he was made an honorary Doctor of the University by the University of Birmingham.

Through his television work Dibnah became famous for felling chimneys (by the time of his death he had felled ninety), although it was one of his least favorite jobs. As he made more films with Don Haworth, his outspoken views on changing society, work ethics and delinquency, made him the embodiment of the views of many of his fans and epitomized the view of a northern working man.

Dibnah was praised by many notable British people. After reporting on his death, television presenter Peter Sissons remarked: "They don't make them like that any more".

Comedian Peter Kay said: "He was one of a kind and now he has gone. I think there will be no one else like him. He was enthusiastic about a way of life that has virtually disappeared now."

His 3rd wife was a gold digger, and married him as his fame was on an obvious rise, and he knew it. So he wrote her out of his will days before he died, leaving all his assets to his 5kids, but the bitch took it to court, and the kids had to sell his terrific (27 year restoration) steam traction engine to settle the bitch.

The eccentric steeplejack and TV star wrote his third wife Sheila out of his £1million will just weeks before he died, aged 66.

He left everything to his five children from two previous marriages but Sheila, who was thrown out of the home they shared within days of his death in 2004, launched a legal fight for her share.

Now Fred's children have reluctantly decided to sell a traction engine he restored to settle the claim.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Dibnah
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/fred-dibnahs-prized-steam-engine-233133