Retired teacher Wilfred Greene passed away peacefully on July 29, aged 77 years.

Born in Lifford, Co. Donegal, Wilfred was the middle son of William and Norah Greene. Together with his mother and elder brother, he spent his early years in Co. Carlow with his maternal grandparents while his father was at war in the Middle East before the family settled in Strabane, Co. Tyrone.

Wilf was educated at Foyle College, Londonderry, and later at Belfast College of Technology where he studied crafts, design and technology. In 1960 he joined the staff of Enniskillen High School where he was a popular colleague and teacher for 40 years.

Many of his former students have paid moving tributes to him on social media, remembering him as an inspirational teacher with a sense of humour.

As a Queen’s Scout, Wilf led a scout troop in Lisbellaw, where in 1961 he met his future wife Pamela nee Adamson. They were married in 1964 and had two daughters, Jill and Carolyn.

Always interested in sport and outdoor pursuits, his qualities of leadership and many skills enabled him to initiate and successfully run a popular youth club at the school where he taught sailing, canoeing and water-skiing among other activities. He helped co-ordinate summer schemes for young people run by Fermanagh District Council and held the post of Chairman of Fermanagh Youth Council in 1975.

He was also Vice-Chairman of the N.I. Duke of Edinburgh Award Committee at a time when there were more gold medals awarded to young people from County Fermanagh than any other county in the province.

Wilf was a keen rugby player and played as wing-forward for Enniskillen 1st XV during the 1960s.

He was chosen to play in an Inter-ProTrial at Ravenhill in 1966.

During the 1970s when Jill and Carolyn were young and very keen swimmers, Wilf founded Enniskillen Swimming Club and the excellent late Major Jack Wheeler agreed to act as club coach.

Apart from teaching young people to sail, Wilf and his family were long-standing members of Lough Erne Yacht Club. He built a GP14 in wood from plans, affectionately naming her ‘Nere Nuff’, in which he and his friend and colleague John Walsh enjoyed considerable success competing in regattas and championships all over Ireland in the seventies and eighties, winning amongst others the All Ireland Purcell Trophy Race at Lough Gill in Sligo in 1987. Wilf was invited out of sailing retirement in 1989 by East Antrim Boat Club, Larne to compete in the Masters’ Trophy Race for GP14s which he won.

He had been a member of Enniskillen Tennis Club since coming to Enniskillen in 1960 and held the offices of Treasurer, Secretary and finally President in 1998. He enjoyed playing until relatively recently.

Wilf is survived by his wife Pam, daughters Jill Martin and Carolyn Lowenstein and grandsons Alex and Theo. Also surviving him are his two brothers Eric in Belfast and John in Wiltshire.

The funeral service held at Saint Macartin’s Cathedral, Enniskillen was conducted by the Rev. Rob Clements and was followed by a private cremation at Roselawn Crematorium.

The Funeral Directors were S.R. Elliott and Sons, Darling Street, Enniskillen.