AN UPCOMING talk will explain how a man who was described as an academic failure went on to become a towering scientific figure of the Victorian Age.

Ian Worley will reveal all at a talk at the Sarum u3a on Wednesday, August 20 from 10am at St Francis Church on Beatrice Road.

Charles Darwin (1809 to 1882) was born into a wealthy local doctors’ family in Shrewsbury.

His mother died when he was just eight years old and he was soon packed off to Shrewsbury School, close by, as his autocratic father could not handle a growing young family and his busy workload.

Charles was soon classified as an academic failure, by both his school and his father, who soon decided that the best option was to support his future as a local pastor.

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So, how did this academic failure of a son go on to become such a towering scientific figure of the Victorian age, being later buried at Westminster Abbey?

Ian’s talk will follow Darwin through his formative university years and on to HMS Beagle and her five-year circumnavigation of the world.

Then, later, as controversary raged when his groundbreaking book was published.

Members and guests are warmly welcome to attend the meeting which will start at 10am with coffee.

Guests are invited to join Sarum u3a after two visits.

A u3a spokesperson said: “Sarum u3a is an organisation which welcomes people no longer in full time employment to come together to learn, laugh and live.

“We offer a vast variety of interest groups led my members with knowledge, experience or simply an interest in the subject, meeting in their homes.

“We hold monthly meetings on the third Wednesday morning of the month with qualified professional speakers.”