# Mr. Gethryn — A Prefect’s Uncle character guide > Mr. Gethryn in A Prefect’s Uncle by P. G. Wodehouse. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Gethryn, Mr. Allan Gethryn **First appearance:** 0001-ii-introduces-an-unusual-uncle ## Snapshot The reluctant head of a struggling house, whose uncle's surprise visit turns a school term into a test of patience and authority. ## Who they are Gethryn is the head-prefect of Leicester's, a Sixth Form cricketer charged with rescuing a house gone slack under weak leadership. His plans for reform are complicated by the arrival of Farnie, a cocky fourteen-year-old uncle who treats him with airy patronage and refuses to be managed. Gethryn's dry, put-upon decency — he endures the Headmaster's muffins and lectures on Reynolds's failings — makes him the story's steady center as the term's chaos unfolds. ## Relationships ### [R. Farnie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_prefect_s_uncle_se/characters/r_farnie) _professional_ Mr. Gethryn and R. Farnie interact often in a professional capacity, possibly as teacher and pupil or mentor and student. ### [Norris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_prefect_s_uncle_se/characters/norris) _professional_ Mr. Gethryn and Norris have a professional relationship, likely involving school authority and student roles. ### [Mr. Marriott](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_prefect_s_uncle_se/characters/mr_marriott) _professional_ Mr. Gethryn and Mr. Marriott are colleagues, likely fellow masters or staff at the school. ### [Bishop](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_prefect_s_uncle_se/characters/bishop) _professional_ Bishop and Mr. Gethryn interact frequently in a school context, likely as student and master. ### [Leicester](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_prefect_s_uncle_se/characters/leicester) _professional_ Leicester and Mr. Gethryn interact in a professional school setting, possibly as student and master. ### [Mr. Marriott](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_prefect_s_uncle_se/characters/mr_marriott) _professional_ Mr. Gethryn and Mr. Marriott are colleagues, likely fellow masters or staff at the school. ### [Norris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_prefect_s_uncle_se/characters/norris) _professional_ Mr. Gethryn and Norris have a professional relationship, likely involving school authority and student roles. ### [Leicester](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_prefect_s_uncle_se/characters/leicester) _professional_ Leicester and Mr. Gethryn interact in a professional school setting, possibly as student and master. ### [Norris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_prefect_s_uncle_se/characters/norris) _professional_ Mr. Gethryn and Norris have a professional relationship, likely involving school authority and student roles. ### [R. Farnie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_prefect_s_uncle_se/characters/r_farnie) _professional_ Mr. Gethryn and R. Farnie interact often in a professional capacity, possibly as teacher and pupil or mentor and student. ### [Bishop](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_prefect_s_uncle_se/characters/bishop) _professional_ Bishop and Mr. Gethryn interact frequently in a school context, likely as student and master. ### [R. Farnie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_prefect_s_uncle_se/characters/r_farnie) _professional_ Mr. Gethryn and R. Farnie interact often in a professional capacity, possibly as teacher and pupil or mentor and student. ## In the story ### [I: Term Begins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_prefect_s_uncle_se/chapters/i-term-begins) Head of Leicester's House this term; has a meeting with the Headmaster about improving the House's discipline. ### [II: Introduces an Unusual Uncle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_prefect_s_uncle_se/chapters/ii-introduces-an-unusual-uncle) Bowls at the nets, then walks to Horton station to meet his uncle, who turns out to be a young boy named Farnie. ### [III: The Uncle Makes Himself at Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_prefect_s_uncle_se/chapters/iii-the-uncle-makes-himself-at-home) Struggles to assert authority over his younger uncle, Farnie, and tries to give him advice about school. ### [V: Farnie Gets Into Trouble](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_prefect_s_uncle_se/chapters/v-farnie-gets-into-trouble) Warns Farnie about Monk, but Farnie ignores him; Gethryn eventually gives up trying to control his relative. ### [VI: —and Stays There](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_prefect_s_uncle_se/chapters/vi-and-stays-there) Gethryn is the owner of the study and cashbox; he is absent during the match. ### [VII: The Bishop Goes for a Ride](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_prefect_s_uncle_se/chapters/vii-the-bishop-goes-for-a-ride) Discovers his uncle's theft and note, decides to pursue him to Anfield on his bicycle. ### [VIII: The M.C.C. Match](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_prefect_s_uncle_se/chapters/viii-the-m-c-c-match) Absent from the match; his whereabouts are unknown, causing frustration for Norris. ### [IX: The Bishop Finishes His Ride](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_prefect_s_uncle_se/chapters/ix-the-bishop-finishes-his-ride) Gethryn, the Bishop, cycles to Anfield to intercept his uncle but misses the train; he finds Farnie and forces him to return to Beckford, recovering part of the stolen money. ### [In Which a Case Is Fully Discussed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_prefect_s_uncle_se/chapters/x-in-which-a-case-is-fully-discussed) Refuses to explain his absence from the M.C.C. match, enduring confrontations with Mr. Jephson and Norris. ### [XII: “We, the Undersigned—”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_prefect_s_uncle_se/chapters/xii-we-the-undersigned) Intervenes to stop the bullying of Wilson, confronts Monk, and later becomes the target of a round-robin demanding his resignation as House captain. ### [Leicester's House Team Goes Into a Second Edition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_prefect_s_uncle_se/chapters/xiii-leicester-s-house-team-goes-into-a-second-edition) Decides to cut the signatories from the House team and selects a new lineup. ### [XIV: Norris Takes a Short Holiday](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_prefect_s_uncle_se/chapters/xiv-norris-takes-a-short-holiday) Key player for Leicester's; takes 8 wickets for 9 runs in the match against Jephson's. ### [Versus Charchester (At Charchester)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_prefect_s_uncle_se/chapters/xv-versus-charchester-at-charchester) Reinstated in the First Eleven after being dropped, but bowls poorly against a left-handed batsman on a hard wicket, taking only one wicket. ### [XVII: The Winter Term](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_prefect_s_uncle_se/chapters/xvii-the-winter-term) Returns to Beckford for the winter term, feeling confident as head of the House. He reveals the truth about the M.C.C. match to Marriott and Wilson, and receives a letter from Farnie returning the borrowed money. ### [XVIII: The Bishop Scores](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_prefect_s_uncle_se/chapters/xviii-the-bishop-scores) Scores the winning try after Norris passes to him; accepts Norris's invitation to tea, restoring their friendship. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_prefect_s_uncle_se/characters/mr_gethryn - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_prefect_s_uncle_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_prefect_s_uncle_se/characters