Celebration of Yorkshire giant moves to new venue

Market Weighton's Giant Bradley Day will be held at Market Weighton Football Club, rather than in High Street, for the first time this year, allowing a small entrance charge to be made to help local charities and organisations.

Keith Lowe, Giant Bradley Day Committee chairman, said: "We understand that this move might be disappointing for some people but over recent years it has become more and more difficult to satisfy the statutory requirements of holding such an event in a public place and also getting the number of helpers required.

"By moving the event to the football ground we can reduce the red tape involved, reduce our costs and concentrate our efforts on the event itself."

This year's festival will be held on the football ground, between Goodmanham Road and Aspen Close, on Sunday, May 30.

All the profits will go to the football club and Vixen 101, the town's radio station.

Anyone interested in helping to organise the event is invited to attend a meeting tonight at the Bay Horse Inn, Market Weighton, starting at 7.30pm.

Also known as the Yorkshire Giant, Bradley was the tallest British man recorded and stood at 7ft 9ins. He was born weighing 14lbs in 1787, the fourth son in a family of 13. When he died aged 33 he was buried inside the church for fear of grave robbers.

Although huge in size, he appears to have been shy and retiring in temperament and only drank water.

He was once presented to King George III at Windsor, who gave him a watch on a chain which he wore for the rest of his life. The day celebrating his life has been held annually in May since 1996.