CONTENTS
4. Fred Dibnah,
Chimney top philosopher. (sample below)
Words Keith Langston. Images Bolton Evening News,
Simon Warner, Keith Langston.
7. Fred Said.
Image Bolton Evening News.
8. Looking back, The early days.
Graham and Audrey Dibnah interview and additional words by
Keith Langston.Images Bolton Evening news,
Graham Dibnah, The Dibnah family, Roger Murray,
Simon Warner, Keith Langston.
23. Rogers Reminiscences.
Words Roger Murray.Images Keith Langston.
24. Roger Murrays
collection of “Fred” stories.
Words Roger Murray. Images Bolton Evening News,
Roger Murray, Peter Neville, Simon Warner, Keith Langston.
66. Rainhill 150.
Words Derek Houghton. Image Keith Langston.
68. Friends will be friends.
Words Keith Langston.Image Charles Leek and Sons Ltd.
70. Bolton School of Art.
Edward Williamson interviewed by Keith Langston.
Images Edward Williamson collection, Keith Langston.
73. Bolton and Bury canal.
Eddie Grindrod interviewed by Keith Langston.
Image Keith Langston.
74. The Eyes Have It.
Bill Greenhalgh interviewed by Keith Langston. Images
Bill Greenhalgh, Bolton Evening News, Roger Murray.
78. Freds Way.
Words Keith Langston. Images Bolton Evening News,
The Dibnah family, Simon Warner.
83. Dr Fred Dibnah MBE.
Words and image Keith Langston.
84. The Man from the Telly.
Alistair Macdonald interviewed by Keith Langston.
Images Bolton Evening News, The Dibnah family, Neil Higginson,
Alan McEwen, Simon Warner.
90. The Dream.
Words Keith Langston. Images Bill Greenhalgh, Alan McEwen,
Keith Langston.
92. Demolition Man.
Harry Forshaw interviewed by Keith Langston. Images Bolton
Evening News, Alan Davies, Harry Forshaw, Simon Warner.
96. Climbing to even greater heights.
Simon Warner interviewed by Keith Langston. Images Bolton
Evening News , Simon Warner.
100. That reminds me.
Bill Richards interviewed by Keith Langston. Images Bolton
Evening News, Alan Davies, Keith Langston.
104. Steaming on.
Alan McEwen interviewed by Keith Langston. Images Alan
McEwen, Alf Molyneux,Keith Langston.
110. Remembering Fred Dibnah.
Words and images Alan Davies.
114. Meet Spiny Norman.
Words Keith Langston. Images David Devine archive, Keith Langston.
117. Up Up and Away.
Fred Fielder interviewed by Keith Langston. Images Fred Fielder,
Roger Murray, Keith Langston.
120. Fred Dibnah
Memorial/ Blue Plaque.
Words and images Keith Langston.
123. Fred Tribute CD.
Words Keith Langston. Images Sue Mills.
124. The words of Barry Newth.
The thoughts of the Reverend Barry Newth. Image Keith Langston.
125. Thinking of Fred.
Words Alan Atkinson, Jimmy Crooks, Bill Greenhalgh,
Alf Molyneux, Roger Murray, Bill Richards. Images Keith Langston.
 Fred Dibnah, chimney top philosopher Looking back
Few readers will need reminding that Dr Fred Dibnah MBE,
sadly died on 6 November 2004 after fighting a brave
three-year battle with cancer. This is the second
publication in the series Fred Dibnah Remembered, which, like
the first, was inspired by Fred's life. It is produced in response
to the enormously positive reaction of Fred's friends, members
of his family and the public.
The editor, contributors, publisher and distributor trust that
those with a high regard for the man some have rightly
described as a 'Great Briton' find this collection of memories in
word and image as either a complement to or the beginning of
their personal collection of Dibnah memorabilia.
Either way, thank you, on the behalf of Bolton Civic Trust, for
supporting this publication. The trust is currently striving to
amass enough money to create a 'Fred' statue in Bolton town
centre and the publisher, Mortons Media Group Ltd, iSs helping
by donating £10,000 from the proceeds of this book to that
worthy cause.
For the sake of new readers, it is appropriate to repeat some of
the introductory remarks from the first book, which was produced
and distributed by the same team in May 2005, but the vast
majority of the exclusively commissioned material in this second
book is presented to the public in this form for the first time.
On account of his career in television, Fred became a high
profile media personality, but the fame that accompanied that
status never affected him, or changed his down-to-earth
demeanour. He will be remembered not only for his many
practical achievements, but also for encouraging thousands of
others to care about our industrial heritage. That people from
all walks of life have appreciated his efforts is without doubt
and he enriched many lives through his work, which he always
looked on, not as a chore, but as a pleasure.
Proof of his many successes is preserved in tangible artefacts,
on film and in the written word. His official recognition was
highlighted by the award of his MBE and he also received not
one but two honorary degrees. But moving away from the
public side of his life, let us not forget that first and foremost,
Fred was very much a family man.
Born, like a great many of his admirers, in humble
circumstances, he was brought up to appreciate the values of
companionship, honesty and the satisfaction that could be
gained from a job well done. As readers digest the comments of
his friends and colleagues, they will see that the one word that
constantly comes to mind is love. He was a greatly loved human
being, and he left his mark on the world he lived in. Accordingly,
it is a better place for his having been here.
END OF PREVIEW • Written by Keith Langston • ©2006 Mortons Media Group Ltd |
