Latest news with #BoltonCouncil
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Update on Fred Dibnah memorial stone after local company steps in
A local company has created a replacement for a damaged plaque honouring Bolton's most famous son. The memorial to beloved steeplejack Fred Dibnah sits on Churchgate in the heart of Bolton town centre. However, the tile was cracked and remains in a sorry state eight months after the damage was reported to Bolton Council. Hardscape, a Bolton company that manufactures paving tiles for urban spaces, created a new tile free-of-charge in April. Hardscape, a local company, created the replacement stone free of charge (Image: Hardscape) A spokesperson for the company said: "We became aware of the Fred Dibnah stone being broken months ago and offered to replace it. "Obviously these things take time and we had to arrange for the council to come and inspect it. "It's a recognisable part of the town with history, people recognise the stone and it's been a part of lots of people's lives. "We thought it was important that the history of that is maintained with a replacement that's sympathetic to the original. "We were obviously more than happy to do that, especially with something like this which is local to where our company is based." Cllr Adele Warren said she raised the issue of the tile's condition with the company, as her husband runs it. She said: "It was all done on their own backs, with a little bit of pressure from me. "He's a local legend, isn't he? "Everybody knows who Fred Dibnah is, and it's a prominent part of the town as well, so I thought it was the right the thing to do really." The council have estimated that the stone will be replaced in a few weeks. Fred Dibnah died in 2004, aged 66. He rose to fame in 1978 when a television show showed his traditional steeplejack and chimney demolition methods, which included explosives and base fires. His warm personality and strong Lancashire accent endeared him to viewers. A statue of him, unveiled in 2008, stands on Oxford Street, close to a working steam engine and the memorial stone was also installed showing his birth and death years and one of his sayings 'Did you like that?'. READ MORE: Netflix star's anger as memorial to Fred Dibnah remains cracked READ MORE: Halliwell Local History Society explore the area of Astley Bridge READ MORE: Winter Hill transmitting station; A behind-the-scenes tour A spokesman for Bolton Council said: 'Fred Dibnah is one of Bolton's best-loved sons, and his statue is a fitting tribute to him and our borough's proud history. 'We are determined to return his statue to its former glory, and the stone has now been remade and is being scheduled in for installation in the next few weeks. 'In the meantime, we would like to thank all those offering to repair the statue free of charge, which underlines how much he is loved by locals and visitors to Bolton.'
BBC News
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Fred Dibnah memorial in Bolton to be repaired eight months on
A memorial to TV star Fred Dibnah will be fixed in the next few weeks after being damaged eight months ago, a council has stone tribute to the famous steeplejack on Churchgate in Bolton town centre was installed following his death at the age of 66 in November Council said the stone had recently been remade and was being scheduled for comes after businessman Dave Fishwick, whose life's story was made into a Netflix film called Bank of Dave, said he would fund the repair work. Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester, Mr Fishwick said: "Fred Dibnah is a legend – that word gets used a lot but it really deserves to be there next to Fred."It's a wrong and it needs putting right. "Fred's a legend - let's just remember what he did for everybody – he inspired me as a child."Dibnah, who was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2003, became an unlikely television celebrity after he appeared in a local news programme repairing Bolton's town hall clock in 1979. He went on to be the star of 20 documentaries. Bolton Council has since thanked Mr Fishwick for his offer and confirmed plans are already in place.A Bolton Council spokesperson said: "Fred Dibnah is one of Bolton's best loved sons, and his statue is a fitting tribute to him and our borough's proud history."We are determined to return his statue to its former glory, and the stone has now been remade and is being scheduled in for installation in the next few weeks."In the meantime, we would like to thank all those offering to repair the statue free of charge, which underlines how much he is loved by locals and visitors to Bolton." Read more stories from Cheshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X.
Daily Mail
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Anger as memorial to beloved TV star Fred Dibnah remains unfixed EIGHT months after it was damaged
Resident of Bolton are growing impatient and ever more furious as a plaque dedicated to beloved TV star Fred Dibnah remains unfixed eight months after it was damaged. The famous steeplejack, who was known for demolishing tall chimneys in the North West, gained national fame in 1978 when a BBC documentary about his as a work was broadcast. His hands-on, traditional techniques and charisma made fascinated viewers fall in love with him. Fred passed away aged 66 on November 6, 2004, and a statue and memorial tile were installed in his home town of Bolton. However, the plaque was damaged in January this year and now has several large cracks. At the time, locals complained to Bolton Council who said they would replace the stone. 'We have been made aware of the damage and are planning to replace the stone,' a spokesperson said at the time. But the plaque today remains unfixed eight months later and locals are getting fed up. Resident of Bolton are growing impatient and ever more furious as a plaque dedicated to beloved TV star Fred Dibnah remains unfixed eight months after it was damaged In a post on X, one wrote: Dear @boltoncouncil This lad once put Bolton on the map. 'This isn't the way to remember him. Fix it please!' It is unclear how the stone came to be damaged, but some speculated it had been done on purpose. 'Looks like it's been deliberately vandalised. All the paving stones around are intact. Who would do that?' Another said: 'Outrageous that the legacy of Fred Dibnah, should be treated this way. The man enthralled generations, with his love of industrial and architectural history/heritage. Please get it fixed, I implore you.' 'Not just for Bolton, for the entire population around in the 70 's & 80's Britain, one of my heroes, nerves of steel, but yet such a warm and personable man, respect always from an old steel erector,' said a fourth. Others called it 'shameful', 'shocking', and 'disrespectful to the town's history'.
Yahoo
03-08-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Parents in Bolton winning a postcode lottery for summer babies starting school
Families in Bolton who want to delay their summer-born child from starting primary school are 'winning a postcode lottery'. While some councils are denying the majority of requests for children to have a delayed start to primary school, Bolton Council has denied just one in the past three years. Parents who ask for a delayed start in Reception for a child born between April and August have varying success depending on where they live, an analysis has found. Figures – obtained by the PA news agency using freedom of information (FoI) requests – show some councils have turned down the majority of parents' requests to defer their children starting school. Meanwhile, many councils approved 100 per cent of requests for delayed entry over a three-year period. Figures show that out of the 23 requests for delayed starts since September 2022 in Bolton only one has been denied. In contrast, some councils have turned down the majority of parents' requests to defer their children starting school. Read more: Fathers urged to apply for jobs at nurseries and pre-schools in Government drive Read more: The school where children know they are 'valued and cared for' Read more: School to become one of first in UK to take pioneering approach to mental health The number of requests from parents to delay reception entry from September 2022 to September 2023, in Bolton, was seven, with none being declined. 2023/24 saw six requests, with one being declined, and 2024/25 saw ten requests, with none being declined, again. Campaigners and parents are calling for greater consistency across England for families who do not want their child to start primary school almost a year younger than some of their classmates – as some families worry their child is not ready emotionally or physically. It comes amid concerns about a decline in school readiness among children starting Reception, with some arguing Covid-19 lockdowns have exacerbated developmental delays. Children in England usually start primary school in the September after they turn four, but parents of children born between April 1 and August 31 can request to delay entry to Reception by a year. A child does not reach 'compulsory school age' until the term following their fifth birthday. One example is Lincolnshire County Council, which refused nearly two in three requests from parents to delay the start of school in a year. Margaret Mulholland, SEND and inclusion specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders, said: 'The Government guidance is pretty clear that it should be rare for admissions authorities to refuse a parent's request but in practice the rules don't appear to be applied consistently. 'Our view is that decisions should always be in the best interests of children – and that may be a matter of ensuring there is the right support in place rather than delaying the child's entry to school. 'However, whatever approach is taken it does need a clear set of expectations that support those interests to be consistently applied so that families know exactly what to expect and it isn't a postcode lottery.' Department for Education (DfE) guidance, which was updated in 2023, says admissions authorities are expected to decide whether a summer-born child can be admitted out of their normal age group – to Reception rather than Year 1 – based on 'the child's best interests'. It should be 'rare' for a council to refuse a parent's request, and the Government believes it is 'rarely in a child's best interests' to miss a year of education by starting in Year 1 instead of Reception, it adds. Nearly three in five councils in England – 91 out of 153 – provided full data to PA on the total number of requests from parents of summer-born children to delay Reception over three years: from September 2022 to September 2023, September 2023 to September 2024, and September 2024 to September 2025.
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How Bolton is supporting the town's - and the country's
Bolton Council has been recognised for its exceptional support of the armed forces community with the awarding of the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Award. Since its launch in 2014, the Gold Award has become the highest badge of honour for employers that champion veterans, reservists, cadet force adult volunteers and military families in the workplace. The scheme recognises employers who go above and beyond in supporting defence to renew the nation's contract with those who serve or have served. More: 'The report lays bare the immense human suffering' as report published More: Royal Navy veteran searching for borough's war graves to honour fallen comrades More: 'It's in our blood': Bolton veterans celebrate Armed Forces Day 2025 To achieve the Gold Award, employers must: provide at least 10 days' additional paid leave for reservists implement HR policies for veterans and cadet force adult volunteers advocate for defence across their networks and sectors demonstrate sustained commitment well beyond the minimum requirements As well as establishing an internal, cross-council Armed Forces Network for veterans and facilitating events throughout the year to celebrate those who make up the community, the council continues to make sure it meets its responsibilities and actively promotes the Armed Forces Covenant. Bolton Council Leader, Cllr Nick Peel, said: 'We are all incredibly proud to receive the prestigious Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award. 'This award recognises that we deliver on our promise to honour the service of our armed forces, and that we do what we can to help our veterans, and their families. 'Bolton Council is proud to support the armed forces and make sure those who serve feel respected and looked after.' Cllr Ryan Bamforth, Bolton Council's Armed Forces Champion, said: 'Bolton has always had a strong connection with the armed forces community, and we are immensely proud to accept the Gold Award for the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. 'As someone with 20 years' service in the British Army, I know how important it is that we support our veterans and their families, as well as reservists and everyone involved in the Cadet movement. 'As Bolton Council's Armed Forces Champion I will ensure we keep up this excellent work so all members of the armed forces community feel valued, respected and looked after.'
