William Penny Brookes lived all his life in Much Wenlock in Shropshire where he worked as a general practitioner for 60 years. He is now best remembered as the founder of the Wenlock Olympian Society, as a founding member of the first national Olympian association and for his influence on Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic movement. He was a tireless campaigner for the introduction of physical education and a lessening of the academic workload in elementary schools. He was also an important figure in the medical reform movement of the mid-19th century. In Much Wenlock he was a much respected philanthropist and was involved in many civic activities. He was also a notable botanist and antiquarian.
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