Published by Cassell & Co in 1957 (Reprinted 1961)

Illustrated by C. H. Chapman 

In 1909, one of the greatest books ever published in the English language appeared. Jerome K Jerome’s “Three Men In A Boat.”  The author, K, along with his friends Harris & George, and his dog    Montmorencey, set of on a boat trip down the Thames. Jerome, who’s middle name was Klapka, initially had a lot of trouble persuading a publisher to print his masterpiece, until Arrowsmith’s finally took the risk.

Thirty years later the Greyfriars chums were to make the same journey. They were to visit many of the same Thameside locations, and encounter many of the mishaps suffered by K, Harris & George.

Twenty years later, & many things had changed. The good old Magnet was gone. The war had seriously interrupted Charles Hamilton’s life. He had a new publisher, Cassells of London. But Billy Bunter of Greyfriars school still rolled on. As usual, Frank Richards was not averse to re-working his plots & themes. So it was that we saw, in 1957, yet another version of the famous story.

          It is probable that Cassells altered the title of this story. My guess is that Hamilton originally entitled it “Billy Bunter’s Boating Party.” Wherever possible, the post war titles employed alliteration.

            Enjoyable as this summer romp is, it is not a patch on the original Magnet series. Coker & Co feature prominently (it is actually Coker’s boat) & any story featuring the great Horace cannot be all bad.  And the party is haunted by Ponsonby and friends throughout the trip. But there is no zinc-lined locker, no desperate criminal on the track of loot, and the ending is very weak. Mislaid tin openers, rain, testy land owners, no trespassing signs, whoppings with a frying pan; all the ingredients are there, but this tale lacks sparkle.