Norris McWhirter

Norris Dewar McWhirter, CBE (August 12, 1925 - April 19, 2004) was a writer, right wing political activist and television presenter. He and his twin brother, Ross McWhirter, were known internationally for the Guinness Book of Records, a book they wrote and annually updated together (until Ross' 1975 assassination, after which Norris continued alone) between 1955 and 1985.

Sports

Ross and Norris both became sports journalists in 1950. In 1951 they published Get to Your Marks and later in 1951 they founded an agency to provide facts and figures to Fleet Street.

Related Topics:
1950 - 1951 - Fleet Street

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Norris came to particular public attention while working for the BBC as a sports commentator. On May 6, 1954, Norris McWhirter kept the time when Roger Bannister ran the first four minute mile. After the race, McWhirter began his announcement:

Related Topics:
BBC - May 6 - 1954 - Roger Bannister - Four minute mile

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:As a result of Event Four, the one mile, the winner was R.G. Bannister of Exeter and Merton Colleges, in a time which, subject to ratification, is a track record, an English native record, a United Kingdom record, a European record, in a time of three minutes...

Related Topics:
Exeter - Merton - English native - United Kingdom - Europe

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....at which the rest of McWhirter's announcement was drowned out in the enthusiastic uproar.

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In the same year the twins were invited by the Guinness brewery to compile a book of records, giving birth to the phenomenon known as the Guinness Book of Records.

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