William Edward Charles Wootten Abney

     William Edward Charles Wootten Abney, son of Henry Charles Wootten Abney and Janet Bentley Littlejohn, was born on 7 January 1921 in Upminster, Essex, England. He was an actor and writer, who appeared in films including the 1960s Exodus and Cleopatra, Hitler: The Last Ten Days (1973), The Legacy (1978), The Curse of the Pink Panther, (1983), on TV in Coronation Street in 1977, and on stage. He referred to himself as "the last Abney in England". Bill was in the Royal Air Force during WWII, and earned the sobriquet "Ace ABNEY".¹

William Edward Charles Wootten Abney died on 9 August 1997 in London, England, at age 76. He was buried in St. Laurence Courtyard, Measham, North West Leicestershire, England.

His obituary appeared August 1997 in the Daily Telegraph, published in London, England. "Bill Abney was unmarried, and with his death the male line of the Abneys of Measham has now died out in Britain."¹