# Richard Venables — School Stories character guide

> Richard Venables in School Stories by P. G. Wodehouse.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Venables, The elder Venables

**First appearance:** 0002-now-talking-about-cricket

## Snapshot

An elder schoolboy whose amused authority turns a lost sovereign into a lesson in detection for the hapless Pillingshot.

## Who they are

Venables presides over the study where Evans's missing quid becomes a case, assigning the baffled Pillingshot the role of detective and feeding him clues with mock-serious relish. His interrogation of Evans — cricket bags, the wash, the hours between ten and seven-thirty — shows a mind that enjoys the game of deduction more than the crime. He embodies the older-boy culture of playful mentorship that shapes the younger set's adventures.

## In the story

### [How Pillingshot Scored](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/school_stories_se/chapters/how-pillingshot-scored)

Captain of the St. Austin's cricket team who agrees to let Pillingshot score.

### [L'Affaire Uncle John](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/school_stories_se/chapters/l-affaire-uncle-john)

The narrator and protagonist, captain of the school cricket team, who mistakenly insults his Uncle John and later secures a promising future through cricket.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/school_stories_se/chapters/i)

The narrator and captain of the school cricket team, who confronts a stranger damaging the wicket.

### [Telegram from Major-General Sir Everard Venables, V.C., K.C.M.G., to his son Richard Venables](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/school_stories_se/chapters/ii)

Recipient of his father's telegram regarding the incident with Uncle John.

### [Letter from Mrs. James Anthony to Richard Venables](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/school_stories_se/chapters/iii)

The recipient of the letter, being asked about his insolence toward Uncle John.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/school_stories_se/chapters/iv)

Writes a letter to his father defending his confrontation with Uncle John over the cricket wicket.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/school_stories_se/chapters/v)

Writes a letter to his sister describing a cricket match and referencing the Uncle John affair.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/school_stories_se/chapters/vi)

Recipient of the letter; his earlier confrontation with Uncle John is mentioned.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/school_stories_se/chapters/viii)

Writes to his father, recounting Uncle John's rejection and a new opportunity from the Duke of Twistleton.

### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/school_stories_se/chapters/ix)

Recipient of the telegram from his father.

### [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/school_stories_se/chapters/x)

Author of the letter to his father; later noted as a St. Austin's freshman at Trinity, Oxford, who scores 57 in the 'Varsity match.

### [Harrison's Slight Error](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/school_stories_se/chapters/harrison-s-slight-error)

Head of Merevale's House; his study is targeted by Harrison's prank.

### [The Manoeuvres of Charteris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/school_stories_se/chapters/the-manoeuvres-of-charteris)

Confronts Uncle John, highlighting family and authority tensions.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/school_stories_se/characters/venables
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/school_stories_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/school_stories_se/characters