Fred Dibnah Has Terminal

[eric1000]

Friday May 21, 06:00 PM

Dibnah hits the road despite cancer

By by Jonathan Donald

Steeplejack-turned-TV-star Fred Dibnah is embarking on a new series despite being seriously ill with cancer.

Dibnah, 66, is setting off aboard his 1912 traction engine to visit engineering masterpieces across the UK.

His agent, Martin Nazaruk, told TV Plus: "He's not well but he's determined to do this tour. If you saw him you wouldn't think there was anything wrong with him. You also need a lot of strength to drive one of these traction engines."

Dibnah's cancer battle began three years ago. The steeplejack, who lives in Bolton with his third wife, Sheila, woke up with chronic pains in his belly and had to have a kidney removed.

A week later a tumour was found in the organ and the cancer had spread. He was given the all-clear after chemotherapy.

But it was then found to have spread to his bowel and bladder. Dibnah had an operation to treat the disease but he has since decided not toe undergo a new chemotherapy course.

"I am stabilised," he said. "I eat lots of oranges and drink lots of Guinness, and I feel great. But who knows what will happen?"

Dibnah's traction engine trip will be the subject of a 12-part BBC2 series, Made In Britain, due to be screened later this year.

His agent said: "He's ill but he's signed up to do three BBC series and this is the first one."

[simon43]

Good bloke this Fred Dibnah! I always watch his programmes when I'm in blighty. Good luck to him but it doesn't sound as if he will be driving traction engines for much longer.

[splitlid]

fred a champ.

sorry to hear that,

ill never forget his tv programme years back.

a real character.

[taxexile]

sorry to hear about him.

i also liked his programmes, especially the demolition ones. as you said, a real character. a one off. even though i had no interest in steam engines or 19 century contraptions, his infectious enthusiasm for the obscure and the eccentric was enough to keep me tuned. a flat capped northerner of the finest sort.