The Olympian Doctor: How William Penny Brookes of Much Wenlock Inspired the Modern Games

In 1850, a Shropshire doctor organised a local sports competition that would change the world. Discover how Dr. William Penny Brookes of Much Wenlock inspired the modern Olympic Games.

In the picturesque market town of Much Wenlock, nestled in the rolling hills of Shropshire, a visionary doctor planted the seeds that would grow into one of the world’s greatest sporting events. Dr. William Penny Brookes, born in 1809, dedicated his life to improving the physical, mental and moral well-being of his community through education and athletics. His Wenlock Olympian Games, first held in 1850, would go on to inspire the revival of the Olympic Games on the international stage.

Early Life and Medical Career

William Penny Brookes was born on August 13, 1809 in Much Wenlock, the eldest of five children. His father, Dr. William Brookes, was a respected local physician. Young William followed in his father’s footsteps, apprenticing with him for five years before pursuing formal medical studies in London, Paris and Padua.

In 1831, at the age of 22, Brookes returned to Much Wenlock to take over his late father’s medical practice. He qualified as a Licentiate of the Society of Apothecaries (LSA) and Member of the Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS) that same year. Brookes would go on to serve his community as a dedicated country doctor for over 60 years, often riding up to 70 miles a day on horseback to visit patients across the rural area.

Beyond his medical duties, Brookes was a true Renaissance man. He was fluent in French, Greek and Latin, and gained national recognition as a botanist. But it was his passion for education, physical fitness and community betterment that would leave an indelible mark on history.

The Wenlock Agricultural Reading Society

In 1841, Brookes founded the Wenlock Agricultural Reading Society (WARS), an early lending library aimed at educating the working class. The society held regular classes on various subjects in rooms above the town’s Corn Exchange. This initiative reflected Brookes’ firm belief that education was key to improving society.

From WARS, various specialised groups emerged, including an “Olympian Class” established in 1850 to organise annual games that celebrated both athletic and cultural achievements. This marked the birth of the Wenlock Olympian Games.

The Wenlock Olympian Games

The inaugural Wenlock Olympian Games were held in October 1850 at the local racecourse. The two-day event featured a mix of traditional athletics and country sports. From the beginning, Brookes insisted that the games be open to “every grade of man,” a radical notion at a time when organised sports were largely the domain of the upper classes.

The games quickly grew in popularity and scope. By 1851, competitors were traveling from as far as Wolverhampton and Birmingham to participate. Brookes had a flair for publicity and pageantry. A band would lead a procession of flag bearers, competitors and officials through the town to the competition grounds, echoing the ceremonies of ancient Greece.

To keep spectators entertained, Brookes included novelty events like blindfolded wheelbarrow races and a race for local elderly women with a pound of tea as the prize. But he also introduced more serious athletic competitions inspired by the ancient Olympics, such as “throwing the javelin” in 1860.

National and International Ambitions

Brookes’ vision extended far beyond Much Wenlock. In 1859, he made contact with organisers of a revived Olympic Games in Athens, sending a £10 prize to be awarded to the winner of the “Seven-Fold Foot Race”. This began a long-standing connection between Wenlock and the Greek Olympic movement.

In 1861, Brookes helped establish the Shropshire Olympian Games, which rotated between different towns in the county. This concept of rotating host cities would later be adopted by the modern Olympic movement.

Brookes’ most ambitious undertaking came in 1865, when he co-founded the National Olympian Association (NOA) with like-minded individuals from Liverpool and London. The NOA organised a national Olympian festival at London’s Crystal Palace in 1866, attracting an impressive crowd of 10,000 spectators and competitors. Among the participants was W.G. Grace, who would later gain fame as one of cricket’s greatest players.

Challenges and Controversies

Brookes’ egalitarian approach to sports was not without its critics. When he first proposed the Wenlock Olympian Games, there was concern that allowing working-class men to compete would lead to drunkenness, rioting and lewd behavior. These fears proved unfounded, as the games were a resounding success.

The NOA also faced opposition from the newly formed Amateur Athletic Club (later the Amateur Athletics Association), which took a more elitist view of sports participation. This conflict mirrored larger debates in Victorian society about class and amateurism in athletics.

Influence on the Modern Olympic Movement

In the 1880s, Brookes’ Olympic dream caught the attention of a young Frenchman named Baron Pierre de Coubertin. Coubertin, who would go on to found the International Olympic Committee, visited Much Wenlock in October 1890 to observe the Wenlock Olympian Games.

Brookes, by then 81 years old, hosted Coubertin and shared his vision for reviving the Olympics as an international event. The two men formed a friendship, corresponding regularly about their shared passion for athletics and education.

Coubertin was deeply impressed by what he saw in Much Wenlock. He later wrote: “If the Olympic Games that Modern Greece has not yet been able to revive still survives today, it is due, not to a Greek, but to Dr. William Penny Brookes”.

Legacy and Final Years

Tragically, Brookes did not live to see his Olympic dream fully realised. He passed away on December 11, 1895, just four months before the first modern International Olympic Games were held in Athens. However, his influence on those games, and the Olympic movement as a whole, is undeniable.

The Wenlock Olympian Games continue to this day, held annually in July. In 2012, when London hosted the Summer Olympics, one of the official mascots was named “Wenlock” in honor of the games’ Shropshire roots.

Brookes’ Wider Contributions to Much Wenlock

While the Olympic connection is Brookes’ most famous legacy, his contributions to Much Wenlock extended far beyond sports. As a civic leader, he was instrumental in bringing gas lighting and railway service to the town. He served as a magistrate for 40 years and took an active role in preserving and restoring local landmarks like the 16th-century Guildhall.

Brookes was also ahead of his time in understanding the connection between public health and sanitation. He campaigned successfully to have the town’s open sewer system covered and diverted, likely preventing countless cases of illness.

The Man Behind the Legacy

William Penny Brookes was described as a short, stocky man, standing just 5 feet 2 inches tall. But what he lacked in physical stature, he more than made up for in vision, energy and determination. He married Jane Clare Talbot in 1835 and had five children, though only one daughter outlived him.

Brookes was a true polymath, with interests ranging from botany to archaeology. He compiled an extensive herbarium of local plant specimens and was keenly interested in the excavation of the nearby Roman city of Viroconium (modern-day Wroxeter).

His passion for classical Greece extended beyond athletics. Brookes was a committed Philhellene, admiring what he believed to be the democratic ideals of ancient Athens. This informed his egalitarian approach to the Olympian Games, though historians note that his view of ancient Greek democracy was somewhat romanticised.

Brookes’ Educational Philosophy

At the heart of Brookes’ many initiatives was a firm belief in the power of education to improve society. He saw physical education as an essential component of a well-rounded curriculum, decades before this became widely accepted.

Brookes lobbied tirelessly for the inclusion of physical education in national schools. He corresponded with government officials and even petitioned Parliament on the matter. While he didn’t live to see physical education become compulsory in English schools (this happened in 1906), his efforts undoubtedly contributed to the growing recognition of its importance.

The Wenlock Olympian Society Today

The Wenlock Olympian Society (WOS) continues Brookes’ legacy into the 21st century. The annual games still feature a mix of traditional and modern sports, from athletics and archery to badminton and cricket.

In recent years, the WOS has faced challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the games in 2020 and 2021. The society is also working to raise funds to renovate the athletics facilities at William Brookes School to meet modern standards.

Despite these hurdles, the spirit of Brookes’ original vision endures. The games remain open to all, embodying the ideals of fair play, community engagement and the pursuit of excellence that their founder championed over 170 years ago.

Conclusion

Dr. William Penny Brookes’ life is a compelling demonstration of the power of one individual to effect lasting change. From a small market town in Shropshire, his vision of using sport and education to improve society spread across Britain and ultimately helped shape one of the world’s greatest sporting events.

As we watch modern Olympians compete on the global stage, we owe a debt of gratitude to this country doctor who believed in the transformative power of athletics. The next time you cheer on Team GB, remember that the Olympic flame was first kindled not in ancient Greece, but in the rolling hills of Shropshire.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 & 12

Bob Lynn / 17-Sep-2024