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lancashirelove Posts: 1986 Joined: 18th Feb 2009 Location: UK | quotePosted at 10:27 on 25th June 2009 Hi Gang, Heres an interesting story, our member Sue Bristow has posted a couple of pics of a giants grave up here in lancashire (Blackburn). The guy was born in London but was in blackburn with a circus when he died in 1918. It took 14 men to lay him in his grave. He died of a chest infection in the local hospital where he slept in 3 beds pushed together. My grandfather is buried close by.
 Picture by Sue Bristo The grave of Frederick John Kempster (Blackburn's Giant) he died on April 5th 1918, he died of pneumonia in Queen's Park Hospital where he had required three beds pushed together. He was born in London, but came to Blackburn as a fairground attraction. He was 8’4½” tall and weighed 27 stones, his coffin was over 9 feet long, it took 14 men to lower it into the grave.
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Ray Stear Posts: 1930 Joined: 25th Apr 2008 Location: UK | quotePosted at 10:29 on 25th June 2009 I can understand now how he could be in London and Blackburn! It would take a month for him to digest a meal wouldn't it? |
| lancashirelove Posts: 1986 Joined: 18th Feb 2009 Location: UK | quotePosted at 10:43 on 25th June 2009 lol! Nice one Ray! |
| Ray Stear Posts: 1930 Joined: 25th Apr 2008 Location: UK | quotePosted at 11:00 on 25th June 2009 Hi Michael, You do come up with some very interesting items! How does he measure up to the 'Tallest Man in the World' who currently lives in China I think? |
| lancashirelove Posts: 1986 Joined: 18th Feb 2009 Location: UK | quotePosted at 14:40 on 25th June 2009 Hi Ray, think this guy must be the tallest on record - The tallest man in medical history for whom there is irrefutable evidence is Robert Pershing Wadlow. He was born at Alton, Illinois, USA, on February 22, 1918, and when he was last measured on June 27, 1940, was found to be 2.72 m (8 ft 11.1 in) tall. |
Diana Sinclair Posts: 10119 Joined: 3rd Apr 2008 Location: USA | quotePosted at 16:38 on 25th June 2009 Can you imagine being the nurse who had to change the bedding with him in it? |
Debbie Adams Posts: 2043 Joined: 8th Mar 2009 Location: USA | quotePosted at 01:42 on 26th June 2009 LOL@Diana,,, Very intresting Michael;-)) What about driving dont think there would be a car for him? |
| lancashirelove Posts: 1986 Joined: 18th Feb 2009 Location: UK | quotePosted at 21:48 on 26th June 2009 Aperantly Debbie it was an extended horse-drawn hearse. |
norajean Posts: 95 Joined: 29th Jul 2009 Location: USA | quotePosted at 20:46 on 29th July 2009 Just reading through old posts on here, and I'm glad to see that people in the UK knew about our "Alton Giant" also, his name was Robert Ludlow. He died very young, unfortunately, giantism has some other health problems associated with it. We live about an hour or so away from Alton, it's one of the "claim to fames" of the area. |
Ron Brind Posts: 19041 Joined: 26th Oct 2003 Location: England | quotePosted at 21:21 on 29th July 2009 And what about another 'Giant' amongst men.....C S Lewis? Oh, alright I know what you mean but couldn't resist!! See www.cslewistours.com (My website is hosted by www.PicturesOfEngland.com ) ...........thanks for your sponsorship POE. |
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