# John Bannister — The Coming of Bill character guide

> John Bannister in The Coming of Bill by P. G. Wodehouse.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** old Mr. Bannister, old John Bannister, Mr. Bannister, Mr. John Bannister

**First appearance:** 0001-i-a-pawn-of-fate

## Who they are

Ruth's elderly, ailing grandfather with old-fashioned values.

## In the story

### [Book I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/book-i)

Ruth's father, who disapproves of her marriage to Kirk.

### [IV: Troubled Waters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/iv-troubled-waters)

Old Mr. Bannister is away from New York, leaving Bailey as temporary head of the firm. He follows Steve Dingle's exercise routine meekly.

### [VI: Breaking the News](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/vi-breaking-the-news)

John Bannister initially tries a calm approach but ultimately rejects Ruth's marriage to Kirk.

### [IX: The White Hope Is Turned Down](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/ix-the-white-hope-is-turned-down)

Coldly refuses to acknowledge his grandson, dismissing Steve and William with exaggerated politeness.

### [II: An Unknown Path](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/ii-an-unknown-path)

Died of a stroke after overworking; his death and the inheritance he left behind cast a shadow over Kirk's return.

### [XVI: The White-Hope Link](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/xvi-the-white-hope-link)

His money is described as a poisonous blight that had cursed Kirk's life; the loss of that money is seen as a blessing.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters/john_bannister
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters