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Record breakers gather to burp and celebrate
London, Nov 12: A burp from the loudest belcher in the world echoed round the Tate Modern Gallery as the Guinness World Records book celebrated the release of its 100 millionth copy.
London, Nov 12: A burp from the loudest belcher in the world echoed round the Tate Modern Gallery as the Guinness World Records book celebrated the release of its 100 millionth copy.
The book, which lists world records from the smallest dog to the highest paid TV guest star, has its own entry in the latest edition as the best-selling copyright book of all time.
"Everybody has a dream to be the best at something in the world and the public has an incredible imagination," the book's editor Claire Folkard said at a reception in London on Tuesday. "That's what has kept us going."
One guest who satiated her desire to be entered into the book as a record holder was Elaine Davidson who had 1,903 piercings, studs and rings over her tattooed body.
The Brazilian living in Edinburgh said she does all the work herself and had once pierced herself 85 times around her waistline in just two hours.
She started piercing herself four years ago because she wanted to be listed in the book. "Now, my dream has come true," she said. "Piercing is my stress relief."
The country's tallest man was another eye-catching record-holder, towering over reception guests, drinking champagne and eyeing (surely, the smallest in the world) Peking Duck spring rolls.
"I wish to remain anonymous," he said when asked his name.
At 7 ft 6.25 inches (2.32 m), 59-year-old Charles Greener was listed in the Guinness book in 1969 but is still 19 cm shorter than the world's tallest woman.
"I used to do book accounts, though not high finance," Greener chortled before scouring the tops of heads to see where the belching noise came from.
Paul Hunn, 34, produced the loudest burp in the world on television in 2000 and is keen on retaining his record.
"I started burping in the school yard and continued in the pub - it seemed a natural progression," he said, turning to talk to children's television presenter Katy Hill.
Hill, who presented Blue Peter, the longest-running children's television programme, was at the reception to sign the 100 millionth copy of the Guinness book along with the other record-holders.
"To be honest with all these people here, I feel a bit of a fraud," she said, looking up and around her. "Or maybe just normal." Bureau Report
"Everybody has a dream to be the best at something in the world and the public has an incredible imagination," the book's editor Claire Folkard said at a reception in London on Tuesday. "That's what has kept us going."
One guest who satiated her desire to be entered into the book as a record holder was Elaine Davidson who had 1,903 piercings, studs and rings over her tattooed body.
The Brazilian living in Edinburgh said she does all the work herself and had once pierced herself 85 times around her waistline in just two hours.
She started piercing herself four years ago because she wanted to be listed in the book. "Now, my dream has come true," she said. "Piercing is my stress relief."
The country's tallest man was another eye-catching record-holder, towering over reception guests, drinking champagne and eyeing (surely, the smallest in the world) Peking Duck spring rolls.
"I wish to remain anonymous," he said when asked his name.
At 7 ft 6.25 inches (2.32 m), 59-year-old Charles Greener was listed in the Guinness book in 1969 but is still 19 cm shorter than the world's tallest woman.
"I used to do book accounts, though not high finance," Greener chortled before scouring the tops of heads to see where the belching noise came from.
Paul Hunn, 34, produced the loudest burp in the world on television in 2000 and is keen on retaining his record.
"I started burping in the school yard and continued in the pub - it seemed a natural progression," he said, turning to talk to children's television presenter Katy Hill.
Hill, who presented Blue Peter, the longest-running children's television programme, was at the reception to sign the 100 millionth copy of the Guinness book along with the other record-holders.
"To be honest with all these people here, I feel a bit of a fraud," she said, looking up and around her. "Or maybe just normal." Bureau Report