Many however will better remember his visit to the Black Country Living Museum to support the Midsummer Steam Evening on 8th July 2000. Fred launched the appeal fund to restore the hull of the restored FMC steam narrow boat ‘President’, the profits from this evening going into this fund. Fred was still diligently signing his book at 11.30 pm, each book inscribed with beautiful cursive decoration. We talked with him at his hotel until the small hours, he still wearing his famous cap. He had noticed a steam hammer on the quayside that was identical to his at home. He described how when changing the pallets (stamping dies) one fell onto the treadle while his hands were still under the hammer - he thought he had crushed his hand but as he went to the house to break the news to his wife to his amazement he had only suffered severe bruising. There were several other tales of near-misses and adventures that night.

As well as attending the Steam Evening, Fred also included ‘President’ in the ‘Age of Steam' series. David Stott and Nick Haynes were in attendance at the BCLM when they were filming and the programme producer suggested he would like a shot of us steaming up and down in the basin. A very polite 'I'm afraid that won’t be possible' from Nick and they made do with Fred walking up to the back of the boat with lots of wash but still tied up. A quick hello to the Captain and then a few shots of the engine, were the only coverage we got that day.

I luckily met him again a couple of years ago in the rather grander environment of a top London hotel. He was the guest after dinner speaker at a function, and we met at the bar. Despite the grandeur, we shared 10 minutes nattering over a pint; he wanted to hear about the rebuild. He was still dressed in his best steam mans kit, from a distance it looked like a normal boiler suite and cap, albeit very clean but on closer inspection it was a tailored outfit.

Although seriously ill with cancer, he was still filming another series for the BBC until shortly before his death.

Fred was a steam man to the core and he will be sadly missed in the steam fraternity.

Malcolm Nixon

BBC Obituary gives more information