The Secret Seven (Frank Richards) facts for kids

The Secret Seven is a series of 11 exciting stories. They were published in The Magnet magazine in 1934. The author was a very busy writer named Charles Hamilton. He used the pen name Frank Richards. These stories were later printed again in 1976.

The adventures happen at a made-up place called Greyfriars School. The respected Headmaster, Dr. Locke, and popular Head Prefect, George Wingate, are hurt in a car accident. They end up in the hospital. Mr. Prout, a rather proud teacher, becomes the temporary Headmaster. He then chooses Gerald Loder, a boy who likes to bully others, as the temporary Head Prefect. This starts a tough time at the school. Unfair and harsh punishments are given out everywhere.

The younger schoolboys decide to fight back. They form a secret group called the Secret Seven. Even though it's called the Secret Seven, there are many more than seven members. The name is just to trick the grown-ups and keep the real leaders hidden.

Many exciting adventures follow as the Secret Seven work to defeat Loder and Prout.

Quick facts for kids
The Secret Seven

The Secret Seven! – front cover of The Magnet, 3 November 1934
A Tyrant Rules Greyfriars! The High Hand! The Greyfriars Storm-Troops! The Secret of the Vaults! The Secret Seven! Fooled on the Fifth! The Dictator of Greyfriars! The Brotherhood of Justice! A Traitor in the Camp! The Schoolboy Sleuth! Putting Paid to Prout!
Author	Charles Hamilton, writing as Frank Richards
Illustrator	Charles Henry Chapman and Leonard Shields
Language	English
Genre	Children's literature, School story
Publisher	Amalgamated Press
Published in English	1934
No. of books	11
Preceded by	“Bunter the Billionaire” series
Followed by	“Christmas at Hilton Hall” series

Who Wrote The Secret Seven?

The Greyfriars School stories were written by Charles Hamilton. He used the pen name Frank Richards. He wrote these stories for 53 years, from 1908 until he passed away in 1961. People think he wrote as much as 1,000 full-length novels. This makes him one of the most published authors ever. From 1908 to 1940, he wrote almost everything for the weekly children's magazines The Magnet and The Gem. These magazines featured school stories from Greyfriars and St Jim's Schools.

The Secret Seven was an 11-part series in The Magnet in 1934. In 1976, it was printed again. This series is from what many people call the "golden age" of The Magnet. This was from 1930 to 1934, when Hamilton wrote some of his best work.

Story Style and Themes

Hamilton's writing style is often compared to another famous writer, P G Wodehouse. He uses a light and special way of writing. His stories also have a lot of funny parts. He created many strong characters. Because he wrote so much, he could make his characters and places very detailed.

Some people, like George Orwell, criticized Hamilton's work. Orwell said Hamilton's style was easy to copy and not very deep. Hamilton strongly disagreed with this. He wrote an article to explain why Orwell was wrong.

Other people say Hamilton's work is not just one type. They point out how he often wrote about ideas that were not popular at the time. He did this in a way that didn't cause trouble for his stories. He wrote about fighting against unfairness and standing up for what's right. This is a big theme in his stories.

For example, he wrote about students rebelling against injustice. The Secret Seven series is a great example of this. It shows how students fight back when things are unfair.

Hamilton uses the character of Mr. Prout to show how power can be misused. In earlier stories, Prout was a funny character. But in The Secret Seven, he becomes meaner. This makes readers dislike him actively.

Main Characters

The Remove Students

The Remove is the name for the Lower Fourth form. These students are usually 14-15 years old. The main leaders and many members of the Secret Seven are from this group. The Secret Seven has more than seven members. The name is just to trick the grown-ups.

• Herbert Vernon-Smith, also called "Smithy," is the son of a rich stockbroker. He is a tough kid who likes to rebel. He first suggests forming the secret group. He is a key member and helps a lot, especially when Loder is finally defeated.
• The "Famous Five" are the other main leaders of the Secret Seven. They include Remove Captain Harry Wharton, Frank Nugent, Bob Cherry, Hurree Jamset Ram Singh, and Johnny Bull.
• Other members are Lord Mauleverer, a calm schoolboy earl, Peter Todd, a lawyer's son, and Tom Redwing, Smithy's close friend.
• The most famous character at Greyfriars is the "fat Owl of the Remove," Billy Bunter. He is very greedy. He also joins the Secret Seven, even though he doesn't really want to.

Prefects

• George Wingate is the usual Head Prefect and School Captain. He is very liked and respected. He appears briefly at the start of the series. Then he is hospitalized in the same accident as Dr. Locke. Senior prefects Patrick Gwynne and Tom North are also hurt.
• Gerald Loder is the bullying prefect. He replaces Wingate as Head Prefect and School Captain. He is a very important character in these stories. Arthur Carne and James Walker are also prefects. They are among Loder's few friends.

School Teachers

• The regular Headmaster is the respected Dr. Locke. He is in the hospital for most of the series.
• The proud Paul Pontifex Prout, a teacher from the Fifth Form, becomes the temporary Headmaster. This happens while Dr. Locke is away.
• Remove Master Henry Samuel Quelch is a good friend of Dr. Locke. He doesn't like Mr. Prout much. He treats Prout only as a temporary Headmaster. Their relationship gets so bad that Quelch decides to leave the school until Dr. Locke returns.
• Mr. Woose is appointed as the temporary Remove master. He is often forgetful and not very effective. Woose is scared of Prout and Loder.
• Other teachers include the strict Mr. Hacker, Mr Twigg, Mr Wiggins, Mr. Capper, the popular sports teacher Larry Lascelles, and the French teacher Monsieur Charpentier.

Other Students

Besides the Remove form, other members of the Secret Seven are from the Lower Fifth (Shell) and Fourth forms.

• Shell Captain James Hobson is a member. So are Claude Hoskins and Edward Stewart.
• In the Fourth form, members include Form Captain Cecil Reginald Temple, William Dabney, Edward Fry, and James Scott.

The older Fifth Form has no Secret Seven members. But some of its students are important in the series. These include form Captain George Blundell, the clumsy Horace Coker, and Coker's friends George Potter and William Greene.

Cedric Hilton and Stephen Price are Fifth formers who are friends with Loder.

The Stories of the Secret Seven

The series follows the Secret Seven's fight against the unfair rule of Loder and Prout. Here are some of their adventures:

A Tyrant Rules Greyfriars!

First published: The Magnet No. 1,390 - October 6, 1934

The story begins with excitement for a big soccer match. School Captain George Wingate tells bullying prefect Gerald Loder he won't play. Loder gets angry and takes it out on younger boys, Harry Wharton and Bob Cherry. They fight back. Wingate stops them and threatens to tell the Headmaster. Loder backs down.

Loder gets into more trouble. He is caught sneaking out at night. Mr. Quelch also sees him bullying boys. Loder fears he will be expelled.

Meanwhile, Billy Bunter borrows a bike to go to the match, hoping for food. He crashes into the Headmaster's car. Dr. Locke, Wingate, and other prefects are badly hurt and go to the hospital.

Mr. Prout becomes temporary Headmaster. Loder, who is good at flattery, tricks Prout. Prout makes Loder the new Head Prefect. The school knows trouble is coming.

The High Hand!

First published: The Magnet No.1,391 - October 13, 1934

Gerald Loder, now Head Prefect, starts giving unfair punishments. Harry Wharton refuses to be caned by Loder. He almost gets expelled, but Mr. Quelch steps in.

The school needs a new School Captain, chosen by the boys. Loder wants the job, but he knows he won't be elected. Horace Coker, a clumsy Fifth Former, decides to run. Most boys support Coker over Loder. But Prout makes Coker step down.

Mr. Prout and Mr. Quelch argue a lot. Quelch tries to protect the boys, but Prout sees it as a challenge. Quelch decides to leave Greyfriars until Dr. Locke returns.

Prout cancels the election and simply appoints Loder as School Captain. The school is very angry.

The Greyfriars Storm-Troops!

First published: The Magnet No.1,392 - October 20, 1934

Loder continues his harsh rule. Mr. Woose, a mild teacher, replaces Mr. Quelch. Loder stops a football practice and punishes several boys. Led by Vernon-Smith, the boys rebel. They lock Loder's study and mess it up. They find Loder's secret cigarettes and racing papers and throw them out the window. Loder arrives and is pulled into the study. Vernon-Smith canes him with Loder's own cane.

Prout arrives. Loder lies to him, keeping the door locked so Prout won't see the mess or his secrets. Loder has to drop the whole matter.

Later, Vernon-Smith screws Mr. Woose's study door shut. Loder suspects Smithy but can't prove it. Prout punishes the entire Remove form with detention, stopping them from playing a soccer match. Vernon-Smith confesses, but Loder still refuses to lift the detention.

The Remove boys rebel again. They overpower Loder, tie him up, and leave. They play and win their soccer match. Prout finds Loder and is very angry. He decides to cane the entire form in front of the school. Prout gets tired after caning a few boys. The caning becomes a joke, except for Billy Bunter, who gets a hard one at the end.

The Secret of the Vaults!

First published: The Magnet No 1,393 - October 27, 1934

James Hobson confronts Loder for unfairly punishing his friend, Claude Hoskins. Hobson punches Loder. Hobson hides in the school vaults. Hoskins tries to find bad things in Loder's study but fails. Both Hoskins and Hobson are sentenced to be expelled.

In the vaults, Hobson sees Loder and his friends using the vaults as a secret place for rule-breaking activities. Hobson tells Loder what he saw. Loder knows this information could get him expelled. He begs Prout to forgive Hobson and Hoskins. Everyone is surprised when their expulsions are cancelled.

Loder removes the evidence from the vaults and goes back to bullying. He stops a football match and punishes Hobson. Prout canes everyone on both teams. He punishes Hobson and Hoskins extra hard.

Vernon-Smith suggests the juniors form a secret society to fight Loder and Prout. He plans for two masked boys to trick Loder while Hobson and Hoskins have alibis. The plan works. Vernon-Smith and Bob Cherry, wearing masks, tie up Loder and cover him in ink. They pretend to be Hoskins and Hobson. Loder blames them, but it's proven they were with their teacher. Prout is disappointed in Loder. The juniors celebrate. Smithy says, "this is only the beginnin'!"

The Secret Seven!

First published: The Magnet No. 1,394 - November 3, 1934

Loder, as head of sports, picks a soccer team for a match against St Jim's. He chooses his friends and leaves out better players. George Blundell, a popular Fifth Form Captain, is dropped. Blundell confronts Loder, and Loder orders him to be caned. A fight breaks out. Loder reports it to Prout.

Horace Coker sees junior boys going to an old tower. He finds a Secret Seven meeting with 14 members. They grab Coker and sit on him.

Seven masked figures grab Loder. They force him to write a note to Prout, admitting he was partly wrong in the fight with Blundell. Loder suspects the Famous Five, Vernon-Smith, and Redwing. Loder's note goes to Prout. A masked figure gives a tip to the school page, Tupper, who then frees Loder.

Loder accuses the Famous Five, Vernon-Smith, and Redwing. He takes them to Prout's study. Coker is there, complaining about being sat on. Loder thinks Coker saw the Secret Seven. But Coker says the accused boys were sitting on him when Loder was attacked. Prout believes the boys and lets them go.

Later, seven masked figures tie Loder to his study table. His friends, Carne and Walker, are also tied up and locked away. With three players missing, Sykes becomes Captain. He removes Loder's friends from the team. The Greyfriars team wins the St Jim's match.

Prout gets a call from "Brother No. 1 of the Secret Seven." He tells Prout where to find Loder, Carne, and Walker. Prout is furious and wants the seven boys expelled.

Fooled on the Fifth!

First published: The Magnet No. 1,395 - November 10, 1934

Before Guy Fawkes Day, Bob Cherry tries to sneak fireworks into school. Loder chases him. Cherry passes the fireworks to Harry Wharton. Loder catches Cherry, but no fireworks are found. Wharton hides the fireworks in Loder's fireplace.

Loder is short on money. He asks Vernon-Smith to buy food for his friends, promising to pay him back. Smithy refuses and gets a beating. Loder then takes all the food from Lord Mauleverer's study, making the juniors, especially Billy Bunter, very angry.

Loder, Walker, and Carne eat the stolen food in Loder's study. A fire is lit, setting off the hidden fireworks. Chaos erupts, and the study is covered in soot. Loder looks like a mess.

Loder suspects Vernon-Smith. Prout finds no evidence against Smithy. Prout decides to confiscate all fireworks in the school. Vernon-Smith is held in Prout's study. He secretly writes a warning on a paper and drops it out the window. Loder sees him. Prout makes Wharton hand over the paper. It's just Latin verbs.

Wharton warms the paper by the fire. The Secret Seven have invisible pencils. The warning from Smithy appears: Prout plans to take all fireworks. The Secret Seven warn everyone. When Loder and the prefects go to the woodshed, it's empty. They are then pelted with fireworks in the dark.

Loder grabs one attacker but is then grabbed by seven others. He is tied up, gagged, and dressed as a "guy" (a dummy for a bonfire). He is paraded around the school. He fears being put on the bonfire but is left under Prout's window. Prout finds Loder, furious at his humiliation.

The Dictator of Greyfriars!

First published: The Magnet No.1,396 - November 17, 1934

In a thick fog, the Famous Five try to beat up Loder. They accidentally beat Horace Coker instead. When they return, Loder catches them and canes them. Coker complains loudly about being beaten. Loder reports it to Prout, who orders the Famous Five to be flogged. Coker is then called a "sneak" by other boys and gets kicked around.

Coker, angry, tries to kick a football at Loder but hits Mr. Lascelles, the games master. This earns Coker another kicking. That night, Coker goes to Loder's room with a bat.

Meanwhile, a small group of Secret Seven members are waiting for Loder in his study. They grab Coker, thinking he is Loder. They tie him up, put a waste paper basket on his head, and cover him with a sheet. Coker manages to shuffle out. Loder and Carne return and are scared by Coker's ghostly shape. They run away.

Coker tries to find his way back to his dorm but ends up in the Remove dorm. The Remove boys think he is Loder. Prout arrives and finds Coker. Coker gets a severe punishment. Everyone finds it funny that Coker keeps messing up.

The Brotherhood of Justice!

First published: The Magnet No. 1,397 - November 24, 1934

The Secret Seven grab Head Prefect Gerald Loder in the Headmaster's study. They tie him to a chair, pour ink on his face, and escape. Prout gets a call from "Brother No. 1 of the Secret Seven," who tells him about Loder. Loder is eventually freed.

A few days later, the Secret Seven meet. Vernon-Smith is writing a message on Loder's mirror. Billy Bunter interrupts the meeting, looking for a hidden cake. His noise attracts Loder. The Secret Seven members escape through the window. Loder realizes he found their meeting place.

Loder finds Vernon-Smith hiding. He takes Smithy to Prout and convinces him to lock Smithy in the punishment room. Smithy starts dropping coded messages from the window. Loder finds one and takes it to Prout. Prout tries to decode it but fails.

The Secret Seven get one of the messages. They use a special code (a promotional gift from The Magnet) to read it. They learn Loder found their meeting place and cancel their next meeting just in time.

Loder watches the room all evening but sees nothing. He realizes a message got out. Furious, he goes to beat Vernon-Smith. But the Secret Seven stop him. They threaten to shave his head unless he calls Prout to release Smithy. Loder, very angry, agrees.

A Traitor in the Camp!

First published: The Magnet No. 1,398 - November 3, 1934

Nine Remove juniors are having tea when Billy Bunter arrives. He says Loder wants to see them. Loder knows nothing about this. Annoyed, he canes all of them except Lord Mauleverer. Mauleverer thanks Loder but says he's just as "cheeky" as the others. He calls Loder "a bully and a brute." Loder canes him too.

The boys return to find Bunter and their food gone. Vernon-Smith goes after Bunter. The others plan a Secret Seven meeting. Bunter is eating the stolen food in the woodshed. He hides when he sees Bob Cherry and others coming. He watches as many juniors arrive. He realizes it's a Secret Seven meeting.

The juniors find Bunter and kick him out. Bunter runs into Vernon-Smith. Smithy learns Bunter knows the Secret Seven's identities. He can't punish Bunter now. Bunter realizes he has power.

Bunter uses his knowledge to get food and loans from Secret Seven members. He even blurts out "I know all about the Secret Seven" to Mr. Woose, who ignores him. Mauleverer suggests they make Bunter join the society.

Bunter is forced to join the Secret Seven. He is dressed in a mask and coat and taken to a Fifth Form study. Loder, Hilton, and Price are already there, overpowered by many Secret Seven members. Loder realizes there are more than seven members. Bunter is made to beat Loder with a cane.

The next day, Loder and Prout are furious. Loder questions Bunter, trying to bribe him, then beating him. Bunter says nothing. Price finds a note: "WOODSHED AT SEVEN." Loder thinks it's the Secret Seven's next meeting and tells Prout. Prout leads prefects to the woodshed.

The Famous Five watch. Prout enters first. A crash and gurgle are heard. Loder's torch shows Prout covered in tar, with a bucket on his head. They walked into a trap. Prout rages at Loder. Loder goes back to school and thrashes Price. The Remove boys celebrate.

The Schoolboy Sleuth!

First published: The Magnet No. 1,399 - November 3, 1934

A ten-pound note arrives for Lord Mauleverer. Loder gets it and says he'll give it to Prout for safekeeping. Prout suspects the Remove boys are Secret Seven leaders. He detains the entire form for the rest of term. Vernon-Smith and Wharton protest and are caned.

The juniors decide Prout needs a taste of his own medicine. That evening, Secret Seven members hide in Prout's study. They put a coal sack over his head and tie him up. Prout stumbles out, looking like a drunken coalman. Loder and other prefects avoid the dirty figure. Remove members, knowing who it is, push him out of the school gates. Loder finally realizes it's Prout and frees him.

Loder still has Mauleverer's banknote. He plans to "borrow" it to bet on a horse, "Gay Goldfish," and replace it with winnings. But Billy Bunter asks Prout if Mauleverer can have some money. Prout, knowing nothing, questions Loder. Loder has to give the banknote to Prout.

Vernon-Smith plans more action against Prout. He goes to the Headmaster's study. He finds Loder trying to break into Prout's desk. Loder looks terrified but quickly recovers and beats Vernon-Smith. Smithy tells Redwing he suspects Loder was trying to steal the banknote. Redwing is shocked.

That night, Peter Todd paints parts of Prout's study white. Later, Loder breaks into Prout's desk and takes the banknote. He finds paint on his hands. He thinks the Secret Seven will be blamed. Prout suspects Smithy. But Smithy points out a thumbprint in the wet paint. Vernon-Smith takes photos of it.

Vernon-Smith believes Loder is the thief. He sees a chance to defeat Loder. The Famous Five and Mauleverer have doubts but agree to find out the truth. The Secret Seven (Famous Five, Vernon-Smith, Mauleverer) grab Loder. Vernon-Smith uses a "Sheriff’s Thumb-Print Recorder" (another Magnet gift) to get Loder's thumbprint. It matches the photos.

The juniors remove their masks. Vernon-Smith says they will go to Prout. Loder is crushed. Mauleverer asks Loder what happened. Loder, defeated, says he never meant to steal it, only to borrow it. Mauleverer says there's enough evidence to expel him. But he accepts Loder's word. Loder begs them not to disgrace him. Even Smithy feels sorry for him.

The racehorse Gay Goldfish finishes seventh. Loder is relieved and grateful to the Secret Seven.

Putting Paid to Prout!

First published: The Magnet No. 1400 - November 3, 1934

Vernon-Smith and the Famous Five complain about Prout's detentions. They might miss a match with Rookwood School. Prout overhears them calling him a "fool." He canes all six boys.

The next Saturday, the Remove boys are in detention. Loder supervises, but he's bored. He leaves Harry Wharton in charge. The boys start playing football with a cushion. Loder returns and is hit in the face by the cushion. A fight starts, and Loder is thrown out of the room.

The boys expect big punishments. But nothing happens. Vernon-Smith tells the Famous Five that Loder hasn't reported them because of the stolen banknote. Smithy still has the thumbprint photos. He plans to use them to force Loder to get the detention lifted so they can play the Rookwood match.

Wharton and the others are worried. They think this is like blackmail. But Smithy is determined. He threatens Loder with the photos. When Mauleverer finds out, he is furious. He fights Vernon-Smith, forcing him to burn the photos.

The next morning, Wharton tells Loder the photos are destroyed. Loder is relieved. He tells Wharton that Prout is very strict about the detention. But he promises to try again. He tries, but Prout gives him a loud lecture. The juniors realize Loder has some decency.

Loder doesn't give up. He uses Billy Bunter's ventriloquism to trick Prout into leaving school. Loder then tells Wharton the Remove can go to Rookwood. They win the match 3-2.

When they return, Prout is furious. At assembly, he calls Wharton forward and says he will be expelled. The rest of the form will be flogged. The astounded Remove boys explain Loder gave them permission. Prout yells at Loder, taking away his Head Prefect title. He admits the boys had a "flimsy excuse." Wharton won't be expelled, but the form will still be flogged.

Just then, Dr. Locke, the headmaster, enters. He has recovered. The Remove boys see their chance. Vernon-Smith and Wharton point out they had a prefect's leave. Loder confirms it. Dr. Locke gently suggests the juniors shouldn't be punished. Prout, turning red, accuses Loder of disobeying him. Loder explains he used his judgment for a regular football match. Dr. Locke agrees it's reasonable. He suggests Prout drop the matter. Prout has no choice but to agree. Everyone smiles as the Greyfriars boys leave the Hall.