RECORD BREAKER'S 50TH

The Guinness Book of World Records is celebrating its 50th birthday.

A commemorative edition of the book, packed with odd stunts and baffling facts, has been brought out to celebrate the occasion.

A host of new record breakers are included in the latest edition.

Stewart Newport, keeper of the records, said: "The one thing that hasn't changed during the 50 years we've been publishing this book is that people are still inspired to break and set new Guinness World Records.

"This commemorative collector's edition is a testament to that desire."

The special 50th anniversary edition includes interviews with a wide range of celebrity and extraordinary record holders including computer mogul Bill Gates, cartoonist Matt Groening, mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary and pop legend Paul McCartney.

The book was the brainchild of Sir Hugh Beaver, the managing director of Guinness Brewery, who spotted a market for a book that could settle pub arguments over trivia.

Twin brothers Norris and Ross McWhirter were commissioned to create it and the first book was published on August 27, 1955.

New entries include tennis star Andy Roddick, who served a tennis ball at 150mph; Harvey a Great Dane from Builth Wells in mid-Wales who is three feet, five-and-a-half inches tall; and Mike Fordham who holds the record for winning seven pea-shooting World Championships.

One world record that has not been topped is the title held by Robert Wadlow - the world's tallest man. He stood at 8ft 11.1ins and appeared in the first edition.

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,91059-13218350,00.html

i'd only want to be in guinness book of records for something great, like first man on mars, or first man to travel through time, not just stick a load of pegs or bees on my face, silly records....

happy birthday though...

Actually he served 153mph at the Stella Artois championships in June this year.
*time to update those records*

I have a old book I think back from "98" or "96" something like that I'm not sure, but sometime around then.I liked the book but those world record books need more pictures the old book I had was mostly text. But it was still good.