LOOKING BACK
Fred Dibnah. Fred lights the fire as he prepares to topple the Ocean Mill chimney around Settle Street, Bolton, October 3, 1982. ONE of Bolton’s great characters Fred Dibnah pictured hard at work in 1982. Steeplejack Fred had been brought in to demolish the chimney belonging to the Ocean Mill on Settle Street, Great Lever. The mill had closed in 1960. Using his tried and trusted method, Fred removed some of the bricks from the base of the chimney at the former cotton spinning mill and then set fire to the wooden props which were effectively holding the structure upright. Crowds gathered to watch as the chimney safely crashed down to earth in October 1982.