One of a sadly diminishing breed that not only knew how to make things but also why it was done that way. Why are they all so under-appreciated today?
Indeed! These were they type of men who made Britain Great. They saw something had to be done and got on and did it with adventerous, yes and sometimes reckless, spirit but they achieved wonderful things that we take for granted today, like Isambard Brunel's double 128' flat span brick GWR railway bridge over the Thames at Maidenhead. At the time (1838) they said it was unsafe and would soon collapse; Brunel took no notice and built it anyway, with it now daily carrying high speed trains down to Bath and Bristol.
These were pioneers in the days before H & S legislation, severe planning restrictions, building regulations and politics stiffled the initiative of these wonderful spirits such as Fred Dibner. No he would not be allowed to create scaffolding as he did 100+ feet above the ground, and that is why we are a poorer for it as a nation today, that has lost its adventerous way because it is too dangerous or risky.
Although I would be first to accept people's lives do matter and should be protected, it has all gone too far and if none of us can accept a certain amount of risk and danger in our lives then our Country and the World will come to a halt!
Just imagine the day when they tell us that driving our cars towards each other at closing speeds of (legally) 120 mph without barriers in between is too dangerous and cannot be allowed any more. Ridiculous you think? Just wait a while, Brussels will come up with such a directive one day!
That's my Tuesday rant over
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Topic: Fred Dibnah (Read 4398 times)