Community marks 400 years since Ripple Giant's death

The folkloric tale of the Ripple Giant and his towering bet has long been been notorious in Worcestershire.

Robert Reeve, who was believed to be 7ft 4 in (2.25m), was reputed to be a farm labourer in 17th Century Uckinghall. One day, he was said to have accepted a bet to cut all 67 acres of Uckinghall Meadow between sunrise and sunset with his scythe.

He is believed to have died of exhaustion several months later, on 23 February 1626.

On Monday evening, exactly 400 years since Reeve's death, the community of Uckinghall gathered to mark the anniversary at The Railway Inn in Ripple and ensure Reeve was not forgotten.

Martin Culwick, a resident in Uckinghall of about 35 years, spoke to the BBC at the site of Reeve's grave at St Mary's Church in Ripple.

Culwick said the event was a short commemoration, with a few words read on what Reeve's life and the village itself would have been like.

"A glass of cider, some bread and cheese, and just a toast to say we still remember you," he said.

Speaking of Reeve and the famous bet, Culwick said: "We don't know what the bet was for, it could have been against somebody else.

"It could have been [for] a glass of cider, barrel of cider, in those days there probably wasn't a great deal to keep yourself occupied [with], so a bet like that would give them something to aim for and certainly something to drink if you won it."

Culwick believes it is important to commemorate Reeve's life to preserve the history for future generations.

"A lot of the old residents who have been here for generations, the families have slowly disappeared, partly [because] the cost of housing in rural areas has gone up. Forced locals out," he said.

"New people come in from different areas of the country and it's very easy for this folklore to disappear."

"Stories that have been carried down through generations will just be lost, so unless we put a mark in the sand and make proper notes now - once they're gone they're gone."

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