"OLD BANNERMAN"
NZBS Production of Eden Phillpotts Story
S a young man Eden Phillpotts wanted to become an actor, but he had the good sense, on finding that, his ability did not justify perseverance, to abandon that ambition in favour of writing plays and stories, and at 86 he is still going strong. One of his tales, Old Bannerman, was fe-written for the famous ‘actor Cyril Maude (who is now also 86 years old) and was first presented in radio form by the BBC in 1934. It was broadcast by the BBC again last year to celebrate the 85th birthdays of the actor and the writer. Now the story has been produced as a radio play by the NZBS and will be heard from the YA stations on dates to be announced later. Bannerman is a mulatto who killed a man for betraying his only daughter and received the death sentence. The story opens with his departure by ship for Jamaica, where he is to be hanged. The old darkie is a true philosopher and much liked by the ship’s crew, who believe firmly that his action had been fully justified. They take his part and do everything they can to make him comfortable, on his last voyage. Banner-
man asks for a Y Bible to read during his remaining days. None of the crew
has one, but the mate remembers having seen a Bible in the captain’s cabin and asks for a loan of it. The captain, who has no love for coloured people, refuses the request. Backed up by the crew the mate decides that Bannerman shall have his Bible at all costs, and gets possession of it after a fight witb the skipper. ? A..shot is fired and the mate is wounded. The captain keeps him on tenterhooks with threats of reprisal. But when the ship arrives at Kingston, he receives a telegram. He then explains to the mate that on the day of the fight he had intended to shoot himself because his girl had left him. The telegram was from her asking him to take her back. In other words, the mate had actually saved him from suicide. The mate is reinstated in favour and the story ends with the ship standing off for Trinidad while the crew watch the prison flag rise, hear the bell toll, and mourn the passing of their friend old Bannerman.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19481126.2.17
Bibliographic details
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 19, Issue 492, 26 November 1948, Page 8
Word count
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400"OLD BANNERMAN" New Zealand Listener, Volume 19, Issue 492, 26 November 1948, Page 8
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Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
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