Published at 10:31, Saturday, 24 July 2010

IN the 1860s, George James Symons (August 6 1838 - March 10 1900), a passionate meteorologist, devoted his energies to organising a band of “volunteer observers” to collect rainfall from every corner of the British Isles.

It would become the first systematic recording of rainfall patterns, yet he never received any payment for his work.

In 1899, a year before his death, there were over 3,500 stations in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, manned by enthusiasts recording rain date and submitting the research for decades of subsequent use and analysis.

This created the phrase “records began” we now often hear at the end of news and weather reports.

Inscription (left) reads

Here lies George James Symons FRS - 1838 -1900

Founder of the British Rainfall Organisation

Pioneer In The Scientific Study Of Rainfall

Twice President Of The Royal Meteorological Society

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