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WORLD record day was held last week and to mark the occasion we have dug out some of the records that have been beaten close to home.
As the name suggests records are broken globally and that is no different to right here in Dorset, so here is a list of just ten of the Guinness World Records that have been broken in Dorset.
Oldest newspaper delivery person
We start close to home with this one, the world’s oldest paperboy hailed from the south coast county delivering for none other than the Dorset Echo. Ted Ingram delivered the newspaper in Weymouth for more than 70 years prior to retirement in 2013 at the grand old age of 93 years and 268 days old.
Most crossings of the English Channel in different forms by an individual
Way back in 1974 Mervyn Sharp of Weymouth completed a crossing of the English Channel by aeroplane, ferry and by train and between 1967 to 1974 he swam across seven times, which according to the Guinness World Record website is a record still held today.
Most jokes told in one minute
Poole resident Clive Greenaway broke the record for the most jokes told in one minute in 2015 with 26 in 60 seconds. Mr Greenaway said he wrote down 30 jokes which took him months to practice word perfect and at speed. All jokes had to be told rather than read from a script and performed to a live audience.
Longest postal delay
There seems to be a delivery record theme in Dorset because the longest time elapsed between a letter being posted and its delivery was in the county. In 2008 guest house owner Janet Barrett received an RVSP to a Boxing Day party invite which had been posted in November 1919. The letter arrived in Weymouth with a note from Royal Mail apologising for any damage but no explanation behind the delay.
Largest display of steam powered vehicles
Dorset’s famous steam fair broke the record for the most steam powered vehicles in one place at it’s event in 2018. 472 in total gathered in Tarrant Hinton alongside many other types of vehicles and transport collections.
Most prolific hanging judge
In 1685, George Jeffreys, the Chief Justice who presided over trials known as the ‘Bloody Assizes’ is said to have sentenced approximately 320 alleged rebels to death in Dorset as well as Somerset and Devon within a month’s time. Most are said to be hanged, drawn and quartered.
First habitable sand hotel
In 2008 on Weymouth beach holiday makers spent the night in a hotel made entirely from sand. 600 hours were needed to build the structure before it was ready to get some shut eye in. A family room with a double and single bed were found inside the sculpture which was the brainchild of Mark Anderson.
Largest button (fastener)
Button fasteners can often be found found on woolly jumpers so it was appropriate this record was beaten in Wool. In July last year the Wool Women’s Institute produced the largest button fastened at 7ft 2.69 in, or 2.202m. The record was beaten by a group of six women, Tess Burt, Kath Burt, Sandra Housego, Virginia McDermid, Sarah Gardiner and Isabell van Millingen, who had an average age of 71. Planning for the button took four-six weeks and another eight weeks to make it.
Longest corn dolly
A corn dolly is a form of straw work made part of harvest celebrations and in 2014 Audrey Rolfe from Bridport made the longest one on record. Ms Rolfe’s corn dolly measured 65.61ft, or 20m, and was made entirely by hand using natural wheat straw.
Most plastic bottle boats launched simultaneously
In October 2017 the accolade for the most plastic bottle boats launched at the same time was achieved by St. James’ Church of England Primary Academy in Poole. 330 small vessels were launched in total, which took place to raise the issue of plastic pollution in our seas. All of the boats were recycled afterwards.
