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An abbreviated biography produced by his great-grandson Richard Green from family archives. 

William Frederick Green was born on 29th May 1837, the son of a successful lawyer. 

In June 1851 he went to Rugby School, in his own words …. 

“taking a high place in the middle Vth form so that I was never a fag. I had a happy life at Rugby.” 

Again, in his own words ….  

“In 1853 at the school sports I beat the record in the mile race, winning in 4 min. 42 sec”.  (See footnote)

Commemorative tankard (see footnote)

W. F. Green left Rugby School at Christmas 1854.  After a spell with a private tutor followed by some travel he went up to Oriel College Oxford.  He rowed in the college boat but in his own words …. 

“wasted my time and talents at Oxford.”   

He left Oxford in 1859 and, following some time as a solicitor, went into the church.  The earliest photograph of him was taken at the age of nineteen in 1856 whilst he was at Oxford, and is in the file labelled General Photographs (1856 – 1928).  On 30th September 1884 he was instituted vicar of East Budleigh and inducted on 15th October. 

Portraits of W F Green

(“My tent” as Coy. Adjt. 8th. Beds/Woburn Rifle Volunteer Corps)

He married Florence Agnes Green (Nee Coles) (Born Madson Cornwall 1853, died August 12th 1929 at Battlesden Cottage, East Budleigh) on 8th Sept 1870 at Pottesgrove, Beds.  She was 17 and he was 33 when they married. He wrote that he was grave and she was gay; and they were obviously devoted to each other. She was named (before Florence Nightingale became famous) after Florence Court the home of the Earls of Enniskillen to whom the Coles were related. They had nine children: 

John F N, b.1873, Stibbard Norfolk: President of the Geological Society of London  1934 – 36.

Eustace H, b. Croydon Surrey 1875, d. Jan 8th 1936.

Stella M, b. Croydon Surrey 1877.

Dorothy, b. Croydon Surrey 1879.

Florence A, b. Croydon Surrey 1883, called Amabel at home because her mother was also Florence.

Michael L, b. 1886: Captain in the merchant navy.

Marjorie, b. 1888.

Phyllis A, b. 1889.

Christabel, b. 1890. 

In about 1888 his father in law Reverend Edward Norman Coles retired to Seaton. He was a keen photographer - a file of his photographs of East Budleigh, the Otter Valley and Seaton are included in this archive.

The Hay Field with East Budleigh Vicarage in the background 1890.

 Rev. E N Coles centre, three young girls probably daughters of Rev. W F Green Florence, Stella and Dorothy 

W. F. Green died on August 4th 1928 at the vicarage East Budleigh in Devon having been vicar since 1884. 

Footnote:  In a letter from Norris McWhirter of Guinness Superlatives (forerunner of the Guinness Book of Records) this time is confirmed as the earliest best on record, in other words effectively the inaugural mile record.  Because Rugby School records of the event appear to have been lost the pewter tankard presented to W.F Green and his own words (see above) represent the only firm evidence of his achievement.  A set of photographs of the tankard (labelled Mile Mug) and the letter from Norris McWhirter are included in this archive. 

Summarised from family archives by Richard Green © 2012

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