Maybole notable Norris McWhirter, co-founder of the Guinness Book of Records, has died aged 78, his family announced on Tuesday From the BBC April 20th, 2004.  (See also www.norrismcwhirter.com )

Norris McWhirter traced his McWhirter ancestors back to the town of Maybole. In June of 2003 he returned to Ayrshire as the keynote speaker for a McWhirter Clan gathering. His sudden death is a loss felt by all those with connections to the McWhirter family.

BBC News reported that Norris McWhirter suffered a heart attack while playing tennis at his Wiltshire home on Monday evening, his family said.

During the 1970s and 1980s he was a fixture of the BBC One children's show Record Breakers, hosted by the late Roy Castle. McWhirter, whose identical twin brother Ross was murdered by the IRA in 1975, had also been a successful athlete and worked as a BBC sports journalist. Like his brother, he also held strong political views.

McWhirter's family said in a statement: "Norris cared passionately about Great Britain, democracy and the rule of law and was always active in politics, but usually behind the scenes. "The two things he attached most importance to were the freedom of the individual and the sovereignty of the United Kingdom. Apart from his family, his great loves were visiting the 1,049 offshore British islands and having a good game of tennis. He was energetic to the last."

McWhirter's family said in a statement: "Norris cared passionately about Great Britain, democracy and the rule of law and was always active in politics, but usually behind the scenes. The two things he attached most importance to were the freedom of the individual and the sovereignty of the United Kingdom. Apart from his family, his great loves were visiting the 1,049 offshore British islands and having a good game of tennis. He was energetic to the last."

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