I just posted a link in the Flimsies to an article in the London Telegraph about the death of Fred Dibnah. Since he is not well known in the U.S., I just wanted to elaborate a little here.

Fred was an ex-steeplejack from Lancashire who presented several TV series, including "The Age of Steam", dealing with the Industrial Revolution. He owned a working Aveling & Porter 8 ton steam roller, and recieved an MBE from the Queen at Buckingham Palace last July for his services to heritage and broadcasting. (He brought his steam roller to the ceremony, and planned to don his trademark flat cap and drive it about the grounds afterwards.)

He was also famous for demolishing chimneys, shunning dynamite for the more traditional method of replacing masonry with pieces of wood and then burning the wood. He is survived by his wife Shelia and sons Jack and Roger.

I found the following links that describe the man and his work:

http://www.vanl.freeserve.co.uk/gvlFred.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/programmes/dibnah/

http://www.bbcfactual.co.uk/fred_dibnah ... _steam.htm

He joins the Reverand W. Awdry ("Thomas the Tank Engine") and many early preservationists and public figures from this country in the great engine house in the sky. May we all continue to carry the banner of railroad, steam, and general preservation as well as they did, as we face the ever growing challenge of presenting the Industrial Age to a generation far removed from it.

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

Surviving World Steam Project