In 1869 Willan won the Grand at Henley with Oxford Etonian again. In August of the same year, he rowed at bow in an Oxford coxed four race against Harvard on the Tideway, Harvard's first race in England.[12]
In 1878, as one of a group of "old amateurs whose ideas were universally respected", Willan took part under the chairmanship of Francis Playford in the drawing up of the definition of an amateur for the purposes of the sport of rowing.[13]
From 1883 to 1889 he was honorary Treasurer of the Winchester Diocesan Society.[14] In 1888, following the death of an oarsman, Willan wrote to The Times to propose that in bumping races a leather pad should be fixed to the nose of eight-oared boats.[15]
Willan was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Oxfordshire Militia on 26 April 1873,[16] and was promoted to captain on 23 June 1875.[17] In the Childers Reforms of the British Army in 1881, the Oxfordshire Militia became the 4th Battalion, Oxfordshire Light Infantry. He was made an honorary major on 5 May 1888,[18] and substantive major on 19 December 1891.[19] He became an honorary lieutenant-colonel on 10 May 1893,[20] and substantive lieutenant-colonel on 13 January 1902, also taking command of the battalion.[21] He was promoted honorary colonel on 13 September 1902.[22] He retired, with permission to retain his rank, and continue wearing uniform, on 17 February 1906.[23]
He went on to become a yachtsman[28] and was one of the founders of the Yacht Racing Association (later the Royal Yachting Association), and was a member of its council for fifteen years.[2] He was also active as a sea fisherman off the coast of Dorset.[29][30] He was also a motorist in the very early days of the new sport, and in 1903 represented fellow motorists in discussions on the use of Hampshire roads.[31] In 1908, he owned a 6-cylinder 28-horsepower Lanchester.[32]
He died on 22 March 1931,[36] and his bequests included £150 to his gardener.[37] A memorial was placed in Winchester Cathedral "by Mrs. Willan, Col. F. G. Willan, and other members of the family".[38]
Publication
In 1900, Willan published an account of his old regiment, A History of the Oxfordshire Regiment of Militia (fourth Battalion Oxfordshire Light Infantry) 1778–1900.[39][40] A new edition of this appeared in 2009.[41]
^James Brinsley Richards, Seven years at Eton, 1857–1864 (1883), p. 431: "It was a delicious thing to row in a long boat behind a good stroke – such
strokes as Frank Willan or GH Mossop."
^Richard D. Burnell, One hundred and fifty years of the Oxford and Cambridge boat race (1979), p. 59
^Dudley Keith Edwards, The Soldiers' Revolt (1978), p. 10 online
^Lieut-Col Frank Willan, History of the Oxfordshire Regiment of Militia (fourth Battalion Oxfordshire Light Infantry) 1778–1900 Including the Diary of the Late Lieut.-Col. Thomas Mosley Crowder, 1852–1885 (General Books LLC, 2009, ISBN1-151-29131-5, ISBN978-1-151-29131-8