Fred Dibnah Statue
IT has taken more than three years but, at last, Fred Dibnah’s statue was finally unveiled in Bolton town centre on April 29.
The idea of a lasting tribute to the famous steeplejack was first talked about shortly after his death in November, 2004.
It was obvious as thousands of fans lined the streets of Bolton town centre in the pouring rain to watch Fred’s funeral cortege, that he deserved a lasting legacy.
The Bolton News approached Brian Tetlow, from the Bolton and District Civic Trust, with the intention of forming an appeal to raise cash for a tribute.
Bill Greenhalgh, another Civic Trust member and Fred’s lifelong friend, joined the appeal committee and it was decided that a statue would be the best form of tribute.
Fred’s widow, Sheila, also joined in the fundraising.
Word soon spread throughout the country and money was sent to Bolton from as far away as the Midlands and the south.
Fred fans did their bit, and soon the £5 donations started to grow into thousands of pounds.
And several of those thousands came from one woman — Wendy Close, who single handedly designed and sold, come rain or shine, thousands of lapel badges for the appeal.
Wendy, from Astley Bridge, became a regular figure outside WH Smith in Bolton town centre at weekends, selling her badges and bringing in more than £6,000.
Sheila Dibnah also raised more than £8,500 and the fund eventually reached more than £46,000.
Finally, almost three years after Fred’s death, the appeal had enough money to commission a statue and a deadline was set for the unveiling — April 29, 2008, what would have been Fred’s 70th birthday.
A site was chosen in Bolton town centre, next to the Hick Hargreaves steam engine in Oxford Street — a fitting resting place for Fred’s memorial.
The appeal committee interviewed several sculptors and eventually chose Jane Robbins, from Shropshire.
Jane started work in late 2007 and this month the 8ft-tall statue of Fred, wearing his trademark flat cap, was sent to the foundry to be cast in bronze.
The Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Barbara Ronson, unveiled the statue. Fred, always a man of the people, now stands proud among his friends in the town he loved.
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Crowds at Fred's statue the day after it was unveiled
Crowds at Fred's statue the day after it was unveiled
The statue is unveiled by the Mayor of Bolton Barbara Ronson
Jack and Roger Dibnah in front of their dad's statue
Fred with sculptor Jane Robbins
Crowds gather around the 8ft tall statue
Fred looks down on people at the unveiling
Brother Graham provides a mirror image of Fred
Fred under wraps before the unveiling ceremony
