Rev William S Symonds (1818-1887)

William Symonds became interested in geology when a curate near Evesham and came to Pendock as vicar in 1845. He made contact with the leading geologists including Murchison and became particularly interested in the Malvern Hills.

He helped to found the Woolhope Club and founded the Malvern Naturalists Field Club in 1853 but continued to work with the Woolhope Club. He wrote forty-three papers, several historical novels (including the excellent 'Malvern Chase') and edited the papers of the great geologist Hugh Miller Murchison, who acknowledged his work in Siluria.

A great supported of Darwin but his faith in a 'God of Nature' was not impaired.

by John Ross