''Billy Bunter's Christmas Party'' is a school story by

Charles Hamilton Charles Hamilton may refer to: People in Canada * Charles Hamilton (bishop) (1834–1919), Anglican bishop of Ottawa * Charles Edward Hamilton (1844–1919), Canadian politician * Sir Charles Hamilton, 2nd Baronet, of Marlborough House (1767–184 ...

writing as Frank Richards, using the characters and settings of the Greyfriars School stories published from 1908 to 1940 in '' The Magnet''. The book's retail price was 7s 6d. First published in October 1949 by Charles Skilton Ltd, London, the fifth in a series of post- WWII hardback novels, it was subsequently reprinted by them in 1952 and 1957. It was reprinted in hardback in 1993 by Hawk Books. A Greyfriars School holiday story, the novel has a colour dust jacket, frontispiece and black and white illustrations by

R. J. Macdonald Reginald James Macdonald (14 April 1879–17 December 1954), who signed his work as R. J. Macdonald, was a Scottish Illustration, illustrator and cartoonist best known for his work in the boys' School story, school stories in ''The Gem'' written by ...

Origins

After the closure of ''The Magnet'' in May 1940 due to wartime paper shortages, author Charles Hamilton was contractually barred by the publisher, Amalgamated Press, from continuing to write Greyfriars stories. However, in 1946 publisher Charles Skilton negotiated the rights to publish new stories in book form. Hamilton, delighted, suggested a payment rate of £90 per book; but Skilton, short of capital, asked Hamilton to accept royalties instead. This proved to be greatly in Hamilton's favour: he received £1,000 instead of £90 for the first book.Hamilton Wright, Una; McCall, Peter (2006), ''The Far Side of Billy Bunter: The Biography of Charles Hamilton'', London: Friars Library, P223

Synopsis

Billy Bunter was better known for cadging holiday invitations than for offering hospitality himself, and it came as a great surprise to various members of the Greyfriars Remove to receive a cordial invitation from Bunter's uncle, Humphrey Carter, to spend the Christmas holidays at his country mansion, Tankerton Hall. After some misgivings, six of Bunter's schoolmates accepted, including the Famous Five and the Australian schoolboy Sampson Quincy Iffley Field, known as Squiff, though it was not immediately apparent that the ofter was more unusual than they had thought! Not only were some of Uncle Carter's remarks distinctly puzzling, but before long there were queer noises and apparitions, and talk of the old miser, Sir Julius, who had once lived at the Hall. Did his ghost haunt the ancient apartments, and where was his fortune that had never been found? In addition, why had Bunter omitted to mention that Tankerton Hall is actually a boarding house for paying guests? These were some of the questions which interested the Removeites who spent Christmas with Bunter, his sister

Bessie Bunter Elizabeth Gertrude Bunter, better known as Bessie Bunter, is a fictional character created by Charles Hamilton, who also created her more famous brother Billy Bunter. History Billy Bunter was a central character in the Greyfriars School stories ...

and Uncle Carter. Yet one person especially had cause to be grateful for the schoolboys' presence, for through their activities, Hubert, the friendly chauffeur, became possessed of his inheritance, and in so doing relieved six Remove members in a most pressing problem.''Billy Bunter's Christmas Party''
Friardale database

Radio

An adaptation was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 13 December 1986 as part of Saturday Night Theatre. The production was dramatised by Rob Gittins.Frank Richards: ''Billy Bunter's Christmas Party''
BBC Radio 4, Internet Archive database''Billy Bunter 's Christmas Party''
BBC Programme Index

Cast

* William George Bunter: Hugh Thomas *

Bessie Bessie is a feminine given name, often a diminutive form (hypocorism) of Elizabeth, Beatrice and other names since the 16th century. It is sometimes a name in its own right. Notable people with the name include: People *Bessie Abott (1878-191 ...

: Erica Eirian *Bob Cherry: David Parfitt *Harry Wharton: Simon Hewitt *Quelch/Brown: Philip Bond *Uncle Carter: Ivor Roberts *Squiff: Lee Galpin *Nugent: Paul Wilce *Bull/Smith: Spencer Banks *Hurree Singh: Sam Dastor *Hubert/Mauly: Cornelius Garrett

Television

A television dramatisation, ''Bunter's Christmas Party'', written by Charles Hamilton as Frank Richards, was broadcast as an episode of the first series of '' Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School'' on BBC television on 4 March 1952.''Bunter's Christmas Party'' (1952)
British Film Institute (BFI) database''Bunter's Christmas Party''
Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Cast

* Billy Bunter: Gerald Campion *Harry Wharton: John Charlesworth *Bob Cherry: Keith Faulkner *Frank Nugent: Michael Danvers-Walker *Johnny Bull: Barry Macgregor *Hurree Jamset Ram Singh: David Spenser *Mr Carter:

Hamlyn Benson Hamlyn may refer to: People * Alan Hamlyn, U.S.-English soccer defender of the 1960s and 1970s * David W. Hamlyn, classicist and professor of philosophy * Paul Hamlyn (1926–2001), founder of the Hamlyn publishing company * William Hamlyn-Harr ...

*Brown: Frederick Piper *Hubert Tankerton: John Benson

References

External links

Full text of ''Billy Bunter's Christmas Party''
Friardale website
''Billy Bunter's Christmas Party''
Audio file of the BBC Radio 4 dramatisation {{DEFAULTSORT:Billy Bunter's Christmas Party 1949 British novels British children's novels British comedy novels Novels set in high schools and secondary schools 1949 children's books BBC Radio 4 programmes