Worked for a roofing company once, where the job was repair or re-roof Catholic churches. First job I was on, the roof was a hundred feet to the peak and a 12/12 slope. I took one look at that and watched the crew climb up. I went home. I never did get used to being on more than 6/12 and even then the nerves never stopped jumping every time I moved. Those steeple chasers have my deepest respect, especially when they're on the "balanced board".
i was about 8 years old when my father took me and my brother to watch the demolition of a brick chimney from a tannery that had already been taken down. Maybe '62? This was at the corner of Swanton Street and Main Street in Winchester, MA. I'm guessing it was between 80 and 100 feet tall, might have been more. There was what looked like a door at the bottom and two guys were walking around and in and out. A horn sounded and everyone waited. There was a bit of a delay and then a muffled boom and a bit of dust kicked up. The chimney swayed and bulged a bit and then laid down flat on the ground. It looked like a brick road. The same two guys then walked out onto it. Unreal. Dad knew how to show us a good time.
Interesting feller. I watched all of his videos. Hard to hear him talking over the sound of his huge steel balls clanking together.
ReplyDeleteFred was also a fine engineer. Have a look at his steam engine programmes and such.
ReplyDeleteI don’t know how he could do that with his enormous balls always in the way
ReplyDeleteI watched a documentary about this guy several years ago. He was an amazing guy with amazing skills.
ReplyDeleteWell worth the watch.
Fearless, hard working, no-nonsense kinda guy. Unsung heroes is what his kind is.
ReplyDeleteNot for me - no way, no how.
That was amazing
ReplyDeleteWorked for a roofing company once, where the job was repair or re-roof Catholic churches. First job I was on, the roof was a hundred feet to the peak and a 12/12 slope. I took one look at that and watched the crew climb up. I went home. I never did get used to being on more than 6/12 and even then the nerves never stopped jumping every time I moved. Those steeple chasers have my deepest respect, especially when they're on the "balanced board".
ReplyDeletei was about 8 years old when my father took me and my brother to watch the demolition of a brick chimney from a tannery that had already been taken down. Maybe '62? This was at the corner of Swanton Street and Main Street in Winchester, MA. I'm guessing it was between 80 and 100 feet tall, might have been more. There was what looked like a door at the bottom and two guys were walking around and in and out. A horn sounded and everyone waited. There was a bit of a delay and then a muffled boom and a bit of dust kicked up. The chimney swayed and bulged a bit and then laid down flat on the ground. It looked like a brick road. The same two guys then walked out onto it. Unreal. Dad knew how to show us a good time.
ReplyDeleteThe last of the second video was advertising more of the same. The one that caught my eye was "Could You Be a Steeplejack?"
ReplyDeleteIn a word, "No."
I grew up about 20 miles from where Fred worked, remember the mills where those chimneys were.
ReplyDeleteHe was pretty well known in the area long before BBC filmed him.
Awesome guy - straight shooter, no bullshit.
He did a TV series called 'Building of Britain' definitely worth a watch..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7TGK7pUgls&list=PLAjnhbI2rD5Ftvcky2_ihK-X6LIi2yFl_