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Jennings #6
According to Jennings
The boys at Linbury Court Preparatory School are eager to speed up the progress of space travel, and none more so than Jennings, whose first task is to find a suitable helmet. But is it really a good idea to take a dome-shaped glass-case, which previously housed a stuffed woodpecker, and place it over his head? Petrified paintpots! Jennings and Darbishire’s luck is in when they hitch a ride with an international cricketer, and could it be that they’ve done something right for once when they attempt to apprehend a suspected burglar? Bat-witted clodpoll!
190 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1954
2 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
About the author
Anthony Buckeridge
109 books45 followersAnthony Malcolm Buckeridge was born in London but following the death of his banker father in the First World War he moved with his mother to Ross-on-Wye to live with his grandparents.
At the end of the war they returned to London where he developed a taste for theatre and writing. A scholarship from the Bank Clerks' Orphanage fund permitted his mother to send him to Seaford College boarding school in Sussex. His experiences as a schoolboy there were instrumental in his later work, particularly in his famous Jennings series of novels.
Following the death of his grandfather, the family moved to Welwyn Garden City where his mother worked in promoting the new suburban utopia to Londoners. In 1930 Buckeridge began work at his late father's bank but soon tired of it. Instead he took to acting including an uncredited part in Anthony Asquith's 1931 film 'Tell England'.
After marrying his first wife, Sylvia Brown, he enrolled at University College London where he involved himself in Socialist and anti-war groups and he was later to become an active member of CND. Unfortunately at university he did not take a degree after failing Latin.
By then the couple had two children and, with a young family to support, he found himself teaching in Suffolk and Northamptonshire, which again provided further experiences for his later work. During the Second World War, he was called up as a fireman and wrote several plays for the stage before returning to teaching in Ramsgate.
He used to tell his pupils stories about the fictional character Jennings, who was based on an old school chum of his, Diarmid Jennings. Diarmid was a prep schoolboy boarding at Linbury Court Preparatory School, where the headmaster was Mr Pemberton-Oakes.
After World War II, he wrote a series of radio plays for the BBC's Children's Hour chronicling the exploits of Jennings and his rather more staid friend, Darbishire. 'Jennings Learns the Ropes', the first of his radio plays, was broadcast on 16 October 1948. And then in 1950, the first of 26 Jennings novels, 'Jennings Goes to School' was published.
'Jennings Follows a Clue' appeared in 1951 and then Jennings novels were published regularly through to 1977 before he reappeared in the 1990s with three books that ended with 'That's Jennings' in 1994. The books were as well known and as popular as Frank Richards' Billy Bunter books in their day and were translated into a number of other languages.
The stories of middle class English schoolboys were especially popular in Norway where several were filmed. The Norwegian books and films were rewritten completely for a Norwegian setting with Norwegian names and Jennings is called "Stompa". And in France Jennings was, rather oddly, known as Bennett!
He also wrote five novels featuring a north London Grammar School boy, Rex Milligan, one other novel, 'A Funny Thing Happened: The First [and only] Adventure of the Blighs' (1953), wrote a collection of short stories, 'Stories for Boys' (1957), his autobiography, 'While I Remember' (1999) and edited an anthology, 'In and Out of School' (1958).
In 1962 he met his second wife, Eileen Selby. They settled near Lewes where he continued to write and from where he also appeared in small (non-singing) roles at Glyndebourne.
He was awarded the OBE in 2003.
He died on 28 June 2004 after a spell of ill health with his second wife Eileen and three children, two from his first marriage, surviving him.
Gerry Wolstenholme
September 2010
At the end of the war they returned to London where he developed a taste for theatre and writing. A scholarship from the Bank Clerks' Orphanage fund permitted his mother to send him to Seaford College boarding school in Sussex. His experiences as a schoolboy there were instrumental in his later work, particularly in his famous Jennings series of novels.
Following the death of his grandfather, the family moved to Welwyn Garden City where his mother worked in promoting the new suburban utopia to Londoners. In 1930 Buckeridge began work at his late father's bank but soon tired of it. Instead he took to acting including an uncredited part in Anthony Asquith's 1931 film 'Tell England'.
After marrying his first wife, Sylvia Brown, he enrolled at University College London where he involved himself in Socialist and anti-war groups and he was later to become an active member of CND. Unfortunately at university he did not take a degree after failing Latin.
By then the couple had two children and, with a young family to support, he found himself teaching in Suffolk and Northamptonshire, which again provided further experiences for his later work. During the Second World War, he was called up as a fireman and wrote several plays for the stage before returning to teaching in Ramsgate.
He used to tell his pupils stories about the fictional character Jennings, who was based on an old school chum of his, Diarmid Jennings. Diarmid was a prep schoolboy boarding at Linbury Court Preparatory School, where the headmaster was Mr Pemberton-Oakes.
After World War II, he wrote a series of radio plays for the BBC's Children's Hour chronicling the exploits of Jennings and his rather more staid friend, Darbishire. 'Jennings Learns the Ropes', the first of his radio plays, was broadcast on 16 October 1948. And then in 1950, the first of 26 Jennings novels, 'Jennings Goes to School' was published.
'Jennings Follows a Clue' appeared in 1951 and then Jennings novels were published regularly through to 1977 before he reappeared in the 1990s with three books that ended with 'That's Jennings' in 1994. The books were as well known and as popular as Frank Richards' Billy Bunter books in their day and were translated into a number of other languages.
The stories of middle class English schoolboys were especially popular in Norway where several were filmed. The Norwegian books and films were rewritten completely for a Norwegian setting with Norwegian names and Jennings is called "Stompa". And in France Jennings was, rather oddly, known as Bennett!
He also wrote five novels featuring a north London Grammar School boy, Rex Milligan, one other novel, 'A Funny Thing Happened: The First [and only] Adventure of the Blighs' (1953), wrote a collection of short stories, 'Stories for Boys' (1957), his autobiography, 'While I Remember' (1999) and edited an anthology, 'In and Out of School' (1958).
In 1962 he met his second wife, Eileen Selby. They settled near Lewes where he continued to write and from where he also appeared in small (non-singing) roles at Glyndebourne.
He was awarded the OBE in 2003.
He died on 28 June 2004 after a spell of ill health with his second wife Eileen and three children, two from his first marriage, surviving him.
Gerry Wolstenholme
September 2010
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 23, 2021
Boyish fun in English boarding school. Some nice turns of phrase.
August 22, 2018
Although as a bookseller I have sold any number Jennings' books over the years, I had never read one until now. It is a late start but an enjoyable one for I discover that Jennings is fit to take his place alongside Billy Bunter, William and others as a playful scamp.
In this tale of Linbury Court Preparatory School he takes the lead in the Dormitory 6 Flying Saucer, Space-Ship and Atomic Rocket Development Corporation, assisted by his devoted subordinate 'Darbi' Darbishire. They are also involved in the Form Three Space-Pilot's League and as such they cruise the school screaming such as 'Voom-voom', 'Urr-hmmmm ... urr-mmmm' and 'A junka-junka-junka-junka', the last sound being that of Darbi demonstrating that he was throttling back the powerful engines of whatever they were flying! Some of their classmates involved in the experience were classed as moon-dwellers but Jennings turned that into 'Lunatickians'.
All these actions brought them into conflict with Mr Wilkins for, as they raced to the moon at supersonic speeds, that teacher was watching their progress with an eagle eye. And once the crew reached the library, problems arose over a glass dome that got stuck on Jennings' head. The library location then presented them with another problem as Lieutenant General Sir Melville Merridew DSO, MC, arrived at the school because he unfortunately found himself locked in the room with only the books for company.
By the time the problem was sorted out, Jennings and Darbi were some kind of heroes as, despite being the instigators of Merridew's misfortune, they eventually managed to portray themselves as the saviours. From there Jennings and Darbi got into any number of scrapes including losing the opportunity of an afternoon at a county cricket match, then managing to contrive a method of getting out of school to join their classmates at the game. And how they got there and what transpired was an exciting little episode, even though it caused Mr Wilkins plenty of heartache.
Then an overheard conversation was misinterpreted by Jennings for whenever there was a red herring to be trailed or a wrong conclusion to be drawn, Jennings was the right person for the job. Not surprisingly, this misinterpretation led to serious problems with other pupils as Jennings collected money to buy a present that turned out to be not required. But Jennings was nothing if not resourceful and managed to calm the others down and eventually work out a system that suited everybody and saved himself from too much humiliation and embarrassment.
'According to Jennings' is a rollicking good story and it moves along at pace; I feel that I will be looking out for more Jennings titles!
In this tale of Linbury Court Preparatory School he takes the lead in the Dormitory 6 Flying Saucer, Space-Ship and Atomic Rocket Development Corporation, assisted by his devoted subordinate 'Darbi' Darbishire. They are also involved in the Form Three Space-Pilot's League and as such they cruise the school screaming such as 'Voom-voom', 'Urr-hmmmm ... urr-mmmm' and 'A junka-junka-junka-junka', the last sound being that of Darbi demonstrating that he was throttling back the powerful engines of whatever they were flying! Some of their classmates involved in the experience were classed as moon-dwellers but Jennings turned that into 'Lunatickians'.
All these actions brought them into conflict with Mr Wilkins for, as they raced to the moon at supersonic speeds, that teacher was watching their progress with an eagle eye. And once the crew reached the library, problems arose over a glass dome that got stuck on Jennings' head. The library location then presented them with another problem as Lieutenant General Sir Melville Merridew DSO, MC, arrived at the school because he unfortunately found himself locked in the room with only the books for company.
By the time the problem was sorted out, Jennings and Darbi were some kind of heroes as, despite being the instigators of Merridew's misfortune, they eventually managed to portray themselves as the saviours. From there Jennings and Darbi got into any number of scrapes including losing the opportunity of an afternoon at a county cricket match, then managing to contrive a method of getting out of school to join their classmates at the game. And how they got there and what transpired was an exciting little episode, even though it caused Mr Wilkins plenty of heartache.
Then an overheard conversation was misinterpreted by Jennings for whenever there was a red herring to be trailed or a wrong conclusion to be drawn, Jennings was the right person for the job. Not surprisingly, this misinterpretation led to serious problems with other pupils as Jennings collected money to buy a present that turned out to be not required. But Jennings was nothing if not resourceful and managed to calm the others down and eventually work out a system that suited everybody and saved himself from too much humiliation and embarrassment.
'According to Jennings' is a rollicking good story and it moves along at pace; I feel that I will be looking out for more Jennings titles!
July 26, 2023
I knew after reading the first chapter I was going to really enjoy this book. It’s a classic and fun story of boys in a boarding school being mischievous kids and getting intro trouble but also not meaning to half the time. I thought the plot was very fun, moving from one focus and problem to another throughout the story and getting to know the characters more as it went on. It definitely made me think back a lot to when I was in primary school and makes me wish I had more memories. It was very easy reading and did not take me long to finish at all.
November 30, 2017
Jennings is, as usual, jumping to conclusions and involving poor Derbyshire in his near disasters. As the book begins, the school's most important alumnus, General Merridew, is locked in the library accidentally on purpose. In the next episode, Jennings and Derbyshire go (no they don't ... yes they do) to a cricket match. The episodes in this book are not as intertwined as some of the others but the story that runs through the book is that Jennings overhears a conversation about their not-so-beloved teacher, Wilkins, leaving and makes plans to celebrate.
In every book we see Darbi not excel in a sport. This time it is swimming. As usual, Darbi has a firm grasp of the theory but only the most tenuous grip on the practice. As usual, he talks a good game and talks himself in over his head.
As usual, the adventures start innocently enough but Jennings soon jumps to conclusions, makes assumptions, take things literally, or finds a loophole. A good romp, but maybe not quite as good as my favorite in the series so far, Jennings and Darbishire.
In every book we see Darbi not excel in a sport. This time it is swimming. As usual, Darbi has a firm grasp of the theory but only the most tenuous grip on the practice. As usual, he talks a good game and talks himself in over his head.
As usual, the adventures start innocently enough but Jennings soon jumps to conclusions, makes assumptions, take things literally, or finds a loophole. A good romp, but maybe not quite as good as my favorite in the series so far, Jennings and Darbishire.
December 26, 2018
much action and fantastic bishes of Jennings & Co.
May 27, 2022
A really very good teenager's book. Wittily, skillfully crafted. Most enjoyable as an adult as well, when you see all the humour and tenderness within.
April 27, 2023
Hilarious account of Jennings and Co's attempts to turn Linbury Court into an international space station, in the course of which they manage to lock the irascible Chairman of Governors in the library, but in doing so take him back to his own schooldays....
August 4, 2013
By and large, this tale is an easy read with clever little twists, providing a wholesome story. To me, it almost struck as a remembrance of simpler times with fewer worries (if there ever was such a time). There’s no swearing, not violence, no sex, no smoking, no drinking, etc. I know – so not me. But, nevertheless, I enjoyed this little jaunt down tame Boys’ Boarding School Lane. I especially enjoyed some of the crazy exclamations the boys had – ‘Petrified Paintpots!’, ‘Cristalized Cheesecakes’, and ‘Fossilized Fishhooks!’. Yes, Anthony Buckeridge had me laughing out loud with his creativeness.
While there are few females even mentioned, and only 1 female character, they are treated respectfully. Still, a female reader might find less connection to this story than male readers.
Narration: Simon Vance is always a treat. I especially enjoyed his blustering voice for Merridew, the occasionally whining school boy, and all the funny exclamations used throughout the story.
While there are few females even mentioned, and only 1 female character, they are treated respectfully. Still, a female reader might find less connection to this story than male readers.
Narration: Simon Vance is always a treat. I especially enjoyed his blustering voice for Merridew, the occasionally whining school boy, and all the funny exclamations used throughout the story.
December 11, 2024
There are some amusing moments in this book, none of which really need the boys' space craze, which is of no interest either to me or to the author. I prefer the swimming relay, which remembers Jennings' prowess as a sportsman and sometimes his bonds of true friendship with Darbishire. Only sometimes, however, for here Buckeridge's habit of forgetting how he set up a situation a few chapters ago rears its ugly head.
Highlight: Darbishire looks ahead to the afternoon's swimming event with humorously described and highly relatable trepidation.
Lowlight: Darbishire has two conversations with Jennings (about their autographed cricket bat) so different that only a split personality could account for it.
Highlight: Darbishire looks ahead to the afternoon's swimming event with humorously described and highly relatable trepidation.
Lowlight: Darbishire has two conversations with Jennings (about their autographed cricket bat) so different that only a split personality could account for it.
December 31, 2012
Yet more excellent childhood memories. These felt almost otherworldly when I was young, and that hasn't really changed, they're no more archaic now than they might have been in the eighties, and the boarding school concept still feels as appealing/awful as it did to me as a small child, and I just find these immensely comforting to revisit. I don't remember enjoying this one specifically before, but now as a series I find them all similarly great, as if they were just chapters of one great long book.
November 25, 2014
This book is filled with typical Jennings high-jinks and the story ticks along perfectly nicely, but there are no absolute classics in here for me.
Highlight: General Merridew owns up to the crime of locking Mr Carter and Mr Wilkins in the library; the headmaster's reaction leads Jennings to lament over the inconsistency and unfairness of adult attitudes.
Highlight: General Merridew owns up to the crime of locking Mr Carter and Mr Wilkins in the library; the headmaster's reaction leads Jennings to lament over the inconsistency and unfairness of adult attitudes.
March 31, 2016
Just. Hilarious.
October 4, 2025
Brilliant, really funny
Five stars as it was so great especially the second/third time reading it
Saw little details hadn’t noticed before
Five stars as it was so great especially the second/third time reading it
Saw little details hadn’t noticed before
February 12, 2016
Charming lot of great fun. Fantastic audio recording by Simon Vance.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews