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Crowds came to see Fred's last chimney take a tumble

15/11/2008

FOR 40 years the late Fred Dibnah – world famous engineer, steeplejack, steam enthusiast and all-round entertainer, not to mention one of Bolton’s best-loved sons – expertly felled mill and factory chimneys over his own stamping grounds of Bolton, Rochdale, Oldham and Stockport.

But what he never did was blow up a chimney.

What Fred did was cut a hole in the base of chimney, prop it up with wood, light a fire and then stand back and watch the structure fall to earth.

He never used dynamite because dynamite often caused too much lateral damage.

In his long career Fred actually dropped some 90 chimneys, including the Era Mill in Woodbine Street, the Arkwright Mill at Hamer and Whitfield Mill at Facit.

His last drop – he retired in 2004 because of illness and died later that year – was Park No 2 Mill chimney in Royton.

More than 2,000 people had gathered to watch the 195ft high chimney fall on a fine spring lunchtime on 9 May.

TV news crews were also there and scores of reporters – it being Fred’s much-publicised last drop.

In the streets surrounding Park Mill, amid a mass of Fred’s fans, ice cream and hot dog vans were doing a roaring trade.

At 1pm, bang on time, Fred asked his wife to set fire to the mountain of combustible material that formed the pyre at the base of the chimney.

The fuel, which had been thoroughly soaked with copious amounts of plant diesel oil, burned furiously and soon huge plumes of smoke could be seen all over the town.

At 1.30pm the chimney crashed to the ground, just as planned. Yet another job carried with calm, professional efficiency, the hallmark’s of Fred’s craft.

His ever-smiling facial expression masked the sadness in his eyes.

"It’s all gone, done for," said Fred, ever so sadly.

Alan McEwen, of Sledgehammer Engineering Press, has written a wonderful book, outlining some of Fred’s most memorable chimney drops.

It’s just been published and is available at George Kelsall’s bookshop in Littleborough and at Touchstones.

The author himself will be at Touchstones on 6 December from 11am to 2pm to sign copies of the book and chat about his days with Fred and Fred’s life in general.

Fred Dibnah’s Chimney Drops, by Alan McEwen, Sledgehammer Press Ltd, Keighley, West Yorkshire BD22 ONW. email lankyboiler@btconnect.com or call 01535 637153.