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EARLY LIFE McWhirter was the son of William McWhiter, editor of the '' Sunday Pictorial '' newspaper, and Margaret Williamson ('Bunty'). He was born at 10 Branscombe Gardens, ("Griffnock" after Griffnock 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 Oxford University ( Trinity College ). 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 . In 1954 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. 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 European Economic Community and Northern Ireland . Always vigorous campaigners for their version of the liberty of the individual, they 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., CND and the E.E.C. in Brussels. On 4 November 1975 , Ross McWhirter offered a £50,000 reward for information leading to a conviction for several recent high-profile bombings that were publicly claimed by the Provisional IRA , and also called for stronger restrictions on the Irish community living in Britain. DEATH On . He was taken to a local hospital, but died soon after being admitted. The two gunmen are thought to have waited in the garden of the couple's home at 7 Village Road, Enfield, Middlesex, for an hour while McWhirter was in the house preparing to go out to the Theatre . When his Wife arrived home, she got out of her blue Ford Granada and was approached by two men holding Pistols . She ran into the house as her husband came to the front door and seconds later heard two shots. The killers then used her car to escape. Police later found the car abandoned a few miles away in Tottenham . The IRA gang who killed Ross McWhirter and carried out dozens of other attacks in London throughout 1975 was apprehended two weeks later. Hugh Doherty , Joe O'Connell , Eddie Butler and Harry Duggan exchanged shots with police in central London on 6 December and escaped to a flat in Balcombe Street , taking two hostages. The four men were arrested after a six-day siege, charged with 10 murders and 20 bombings and jailed for life in 1977 . They were freed in April 1999 under the terms of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement - the multi-party peace deal for Northern Ireland. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY Sports and general encyclopædia
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