| Biography | Sir William Carr was chairman of the News of The World from 1952 until 1968 when the newspaper was taken over by Rupert Murdoch's News International.
Carr did not actually become chairman of News of the World Ltd until 1952. He had already assumed several of his father's honorary appointments in both golf and athletics, not least club chairman at Walton Heath. In 1953 he established in his father's memory the Emsley Carr mile, a one-mile annual invitation race originally run during the British games at the White City. However, despite his membership of the general council of the press, Carr refused to adopt a similar high profile within the newspaper industry. He eschewed any wider responsibility for the well-being of Fleet Street, or of the provincial press, despite acquiring Berrow's Ltd, a group of newspapers concentrated on Hereford and Worcester. Carr was only interested in the News of the World and its workforce. Knighted in 1957, Sir William entertained lavishly. His largess was legendary, and he indulged his editorial staff, who were always invited to Lady Carr's annual garden party at Bentley Wood, the family's country home in Sussex. The chairman would also foot the bill, including the green fees and the bar tab, at Walton Heath, where staff had the freedom of the course every Monday. |