FRED Dibnah fans who watched last week's BBC 2 programme covering the eccentric steeplejack's amazing bid to build a replica of a working pit in his garden would have caught a glimpse of former Leigh Grammar School lad and former curator of the Lancashire Mining Museum, Alan Davies, among his cronies.

The Leigh-based archivist was having a pint in the pub with the mining gang and was the youngest of the group, ribbing Fred about the size of his wallet.

Telly success came late in life for Fred, but he certainly deserves it.