Ross McWhirter

Alan Ross McWhirter (12 August, 1925 – 27 November, 1975), known as Ross McWhirter, was, with his identical twin brother, Norris McWhirter, founder of the Guinness Book of Records. He was killed by the Provisional Irish Republican Army.

Early life

McWhirter was the son of William McWhirter, editor of the "Sunday Pictorial" newspaper, and Margaret Williamson ('Bunty'). He was born at 10 Branscombe Gardens, "Giffnock" (after Giffnock Church in Glasgow, where the McWhirters were married) Winchmore Hill, London, N21. His elder brother Kennedy was born in 1923. In 1929, as William was working on the founding of the Northcliffe Newspapers chain of provincial newspapers, the family moved to Aberfoyle, in Broad Walk Winchmore Hill. Like his brothers Ross was educated at Marlborough College and Trinity College, Oxford.Fact|date=July 2007

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, setting out, in Norris McWhirter's words: "to supply facts and figures to newspapers, yearbooks, encyclopedias and advertisers."

While building up their accounts, they both worked as sports journalists. One of the athletes they knew and covered was runner Christopher Chataway, the employee at Guinness who recommended them to Sir Hugh Beaver. After an interview in 1954 which the Guinness directors enjoyed testing the twins' knowledge of records and unusual facts, the brothers agreed to start work on the book that would become the Guinness Book of Records. In August 1954, the first slim green volume - 198 pages long - was at the bookstalls, and in four more months it was England's number one non-fiction best-seller.

Television

Both brothers were regulars on the BBC show "Record Breakers". They were noted for their photographic memory, enabling them to provide detailed answers to any questions from the audience about entries in the Guinness Book of Records. Norris continued on the programme after Ross's death.

Political activity

He was an active Conservative in the early 1960s, and fought, unsuccessfully, the seat of Edmonton in the 1964 general election. Both brothers held right-wing views on topics such as immigration, Rhodesia, South Africa, British membership of the E.E.C. and Northern Ireland. Always vigorous campaigners for their version of the liberty of the individual, they co-founded the 'National Association for Freedom', later 'The Freedom Association', in 1975. This organisation initiated legal challenges against the trade union movement in the U.K., the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) and the European Economic Community (EEC) in Brussels.

Death

After McWhirter's friend John Gouriet had failed to persuade the Home Secretary, Roy Jenkins, to do so, on 4 November, 1975, McWhirter offered a £50,000 reward for information leading to a conviction for several recent high-profile bombings in England that were publicly claimed by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA). He also advocated stronger restrictions on the Irish community in Britain. [ [http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/t-z/year04.html Channel 4] ] However, McWhirter said that he accepted he could now be a target for terrorists himself.

On 27 November, 1975, McWhirter was killed by two volunteers from the IRA, both of whom were members of what became known as the Balcombe Street Gang, the group for whose capture McWhirter had offered the reward.

He was shot at close range in the head and chest at 18:45 GMT and was taken to Chase Farm Hospital, but died soon after being admitted.

elected bibliography

Sports and general encyclopædia
* "Get To Your Marks" (1951, with Norris McWhirter)
* "Guinness Book of Records" (1955-1975, with Norris McWhirter)
* "Ross: The Story of a Shared Life" (Norris McWhirter) ISBN 0-902782-23-1

References

External links

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/november/27/newsid_2528000/2528787.stm TV presenter Ross McWhirter shot dead] @ BBC News, "On This Day", 26 November, 2006.