Kenneth William Green

Financier Born: September 3, 1940 Died: June 30, 2015

Ken Green, a innovator and a catalyst for change in both the financial sector and in the country cricket world, was a perfectionist, persistent and did not suffer fools gladly. But equally well, he had a sharp sense of humour.

His early life was in Edinburgh. The son of a butcher living in Colinton he went to his local primary school and sang of the choir at St Cuthbert’s Episcopal Church. His secondary education was at George Watson’s College where he became Senior Cadet in the Combined Cadet Force then Head Boy. He went on to Edinburgh University and to First Class Honours Degree majoring in Economics – a subject, he believed, with its principles of demand and supply, scarcity and want – helped explain the basic foundations of life.

An all round sportsman Ken excelled in both rugby and cricket but it was the latter in which he made an enduring mark. He was George Watson’s Cricket Captain in his final year although cheerfully ruffled establishment feathers by subsequently declining to play for the Watsonians. Instead he played for Edinburgh University and with all the top student players in the Scottish Universities X1. After Watson’s tight knit old school boy tie network he relished meeting people from different locations and walks of life.

A graduate traineeship with the Royal Insurance company drew him into the world of large companies and then down to Lancashire where he went on to work for Procter and Gamble. On visits back to Edinburgh he would jokingly say he was now selling soap.

He progressed to posts with Burroughs and then Twinlock moving down to London when that company relocated. Next move was to Abbey Life where he became the company’s leading salesman.

A creative and inveterate entrepreneur he decided to set up his own insurance brokerage called Green Denman and Co. Maintaining contact with colleagues in Abbey Life, however, he was the driving force behind the creation of Skandia Life Assurance Company. He declined closer involvement, however, as his own business grew from strength to strength.

The move to England had fortuitously placed Ken close to the top players of Lancashire Country Cricket Club and he played as a wicket keeper for Eric Taylor’s X1.

Whilst working in London, the Green family lived in West Sussex. No small wonder then that he in 1973 was playing for Sussex in the 2nd X1 Championship. At the same time he was a playing member of MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) which manages the Lords cricket ground in London. In 1976 he went on an MCC tour to Denmark and Holland. He also played for the Duchess of Norfolk’s X1 based at Arundel Castle cricket grounds and for twenty five years sponsored matches there. In the process he formed enduring friendships with all time greats such as Colin Cowdrey.

Essentially a self made man who had started life from relatively unassuming beginnings, he never lost sight of the need to encourage young people in their endeavours.

For 28 years he funded the annual Kenneth Green Prize at George Watson’s College awarded to third year pupils taught in the Economics and Modern Studies Department who researched and wrote the best projects on topics of their own choosing.

In the cricket world Ken set up the Sussex Young Cricketers Educational Trust (subsequently titled Sussex Cricket in the Community Trust)which gave opportunities for both boys and girls to develop their cricketing interests and skills. It was the first charitable trust for county cricket in the UK and served as a prototype for other such trusts.

However, he was never shy of a change of scene and in his middle age he took to horse racing, owning horses trained by top names such as Michael Bell at Newmarket and Lady Herries (Anne Cowdrey) at Angmering Park in West Sussex.

Ken’s hitherto robust health was blighted in February 2008 by a stroke which led to the winding down of his business a few years later. A diagnosis of vascular dementia was a further blow. His wife Lorna – whom he had met whilst they were both pupils at Watson’s Boy’s and Girl’s Colleges – cared for him at home for as long as she could until he was placed. just four months ago, in a care home.

However, pneumonia finally took him away and he died in hospital with Lorna at his side. At that point their marriage had last just a few months short of 50 years.

As well as his wife and three children Fiona, Andrew and Michael, Ken is survived by his brother David and by five grandchildren Emily, Tilly, William, Zara and Arabella.