Dr. Malcolm Symons died on Christmas Eve, 24th December, 2022 at the age of eighty-six.
Dr. Symons, an invaluable member of our Advisory Panel was also a loyal supporter of Llanelli Community Heritage from its inception in 2004. He was frequently consulted in the course of our researches, and in 2010 sponsored one of our earliest Blue Plaques commemorating the Bres Colliery.
His knowledge of the problems of construction in old coal mining areas fortified the accuracy of our work locally, and his wide knowledge of the subject allowed him to act as expert witness in legal disputes concerning the correct interpretation of the wording of old coal leases. He was a major contributor to The Industrial History of Llanelli and Burry Port 1750-2000 and the author of the widely admired Coal Mining in the Lanelli Area - Volume One & Volume Two.
Born and raised in Llanelli, Dr. Symons attended Lakefield Primary School, Copperworks Junior School and finally Llanelli Boys' Grammar School. After gaining a B.Sc. in civil engineering followed by a Ph.D. in geotechnical engineering at the University of Leeds, he worked in consulting and contracting engineering construction and for the Transmission Project Group of the Central Electricity Generating Board.
In 1967 he moved into academia teaching geotechnical engineering, researching, and publishing internationally on the load capacity of piled foundations. He retired from Cardiff University in 1992 and became an independent consultant to engineering companies needing technical advice.
Apart from his value to us as a historical consultant, Dr. Symons will be very much missed as a kind, understanding and unfailingly polite friend and colleague.