Why is the book of records the Guinness book of records?
Whilst at a shooting party in County Wexford, Ireland in 1951, Sir Hugh Beaver – the Managing Director of Guinness Brewery – was involved in a dispute as to whether the golden plover was Europe’s fastest game bird, but in his host’s library he could not confirm the answer using any of the reference books. Again in 1954, another argument arose as to whether grouse were faster than golden plover. Sir Hugh realised that such questions must occur among people in pubs everywhere and a book that provided answers for debates such as these would be of great use to licensees. The First Book Chris Chataway, the record breaking athlete who was then an under-brewer at Guinness Park Royal Brewery in London recommended Norris and Ross McWhirter (whom he had met through athletic events) as the ideal duo to compile the book. The twins, who were running a fact-finding agency in Fleet Street, were commissioned to create what would become The Guinness Book of Records. After a busy year of research, the f
