The Greyfriars School stories were written by author Charles Hamilton, under the pen name Frank Richards, over a 53-year period from 1908 until his death on Christmas Eve 1961.

The exceptional volume of material produced by Hamilton over his writing career allowed both characters and locations to be developed in great depth.

Orwell described Hamilton's style as easily imitated (to facilitate substitute writers), plagiarist, and largely comprising shallow right wing content.

Over the years, Hamilton was ever ready to air unfashionable causes to his young audience, but did so in a way that did not attract controversy or jeopardise publication of his stories.

Anti-capitalism, early Socialism, the Suffragette movement and conscientious objectors during World War I all received sympathetic treatment in Hamilton's work.

[8] In an age when the word "nigger" was not yet regarded in the same pejorative sense that applies today, Hamilton's work consistently emphasised the offensive nature of the term from as early as 1922;[9] and his output even included unfashionable anti-British sentiments in stories set against the background of imperial India.

However, Hamilton also retains a keen sense of the absurd and uses his distinctive prose style to underline the comedic aspect of covert societies that have masked faces, secret passwords, rituals and codes.

Herbert Vernon-Smith, or “Smithy”, son of a millionaire stockbroker – a hard character with a strong rebellious streak, first proposes the idea of a secret society.

The "Famous Five", comprising Remove Captain Harry Wharton, along with Frank Nugent, Bob Cherry, Hurree Jamset Ram Singh and Johnny Bull are the other ringleaders of the Secret Seven.

Other members include languid schoolboy earl Lord Mauleverer who features regularly, as does lawyer's son Peter Todd and Vernon-Smith's close friend Tom Redwing.

Probably the most famous character in the Greyfriars stories is the fat Owl of the Remove - greedy schoolboy Billy Bunter, who eventually (albeit reluctantly) also becomes a member of the Secret Seven.

Highly popular and respected, he appears briefly on the opening episode of the series before he is hospitalised in the same road accident that injures Dr. Locke.

In a savage temper, Loder vents his frustrations on Harry Wharton and Bob Cherry, members of the junior Remove form, who retaliate fiercely.

First published in The Magnet No.1,391 13 October 1934 School bully Gerald Loder is now the Head Prefect of Greyfriars, under the temporary headmastership of Mr Prout.

After flogging twenty boys, tragedy turns into comedy, with Prout barely flicking each offender, to the audible amusement of the onlookers.

First published in The Magnet No 1,393 - 27 October 1934 The story opens with James Hobson, captain of the Shell form, angrily confronting Loder after his close friend, Claude Hoskins, has been unjustly punished.

Belatedly considering the probable consequences of his action, Hobson decides to “lie low” for a while in the optimistic hope that matters will calm down.

Hobson and Hoskins are punished particularly severely – in Prout's eyes, they have displayed “black ingratitude” after Loder had pleaded for clemency on their behalf earlier in the day.

Meanwhile, Fifth form duffer Horace Coker is walking outside and observes a number of junior schoolboys heading towards the old tower adjacent to the school cloisters.

He summons Vernon-Smith - whose millionaire father provides him with an over-generous allowance – and asks him to buy the provisions at the school shop, on the understanding that he will reimburse him the next day.

Chaos quickly ensues, with the three prefects scrambling to avoid exploding fireworks and causing the table, laden with foodstuffs and drinks, to overturn.

He now finds out that one of the encoded messages has likely found its way to the Secret Seven and, in a state of fury, sets off with his cane to beat Vernon-Smith in the punishment room.

1,398 - 3 November 1934 Nine Remove juniors – the Famous Five, Vernon-Smith, Tom Redwing, Peter Todd and Lord Mauleverer – are settling down to high tea in Smithy's study when Billy Bunter arrives with a message from Loder.

Eventually Mauleverer suggests a solution – Bunter must be made to join the secret society and take a leading hand in handling Loder.

In the chapter titled “Brother Bunter!”, the fat Owl of the Remove is apprehended by the Secret Seven and, under threat of being jabbed by a pair of compasses, agrees to be initiated into the society.

But his plans are frustrated by Billy Bunter, who is hoping to borrow some of the ten pounds himself, and who asks Prout whether Mauleverer could be permitted to have a small part of the remittance.

A ghastly pallor sweeps over Loder's face, and for a moment he seems as if he is going to faint – but he swiftly recovers and inflicts a savage beating on Vernon-Smith.

The next day, Prout makes clear to Vernon-Smith that he suspects him of being the perpetrator – but is astonished when Smithy points out that the real culprit has left clues to his identity in the form of a thumbprint in the wet paint.

In a final twist, the racehorse Gay Goldfish finishes seventh – leaving Loder relieved and grateful to the Secret Seven for their latest proceedings.

He reminds them of episode of Mauleverer's stolen banknote, told in the previous story, and suggests this is the reason that Loder has not reported the morning's events.