Ben Travers (Estate)

Ben Travers was born in Hendon in 1886 and was sent to Charterhouse in the reign of Queen Victoria. His school career was a complete failure and was terminated, as he himself asserted, by mutual consent. He then spent several years in commerce for which he displayed very little interest or aptitude, but in 1911 he found more congenial employment in the firm of John Lane, the publisher and founder of the Bodley Head.

Virtually all his farces of the twenties and thirties were filmed and other screenplays included POT LUCK, FOREIGN AFFAIRS, LADY IN DANGER and UNCLE SILAS.

He wrote five novels, two volumes of autobiography and a book on cricket.

During the 1914-18 war he was a Squadron Commander in the RNAS and RAF, and received the Air Force Cross, and in 1939 he rejoined the RAF as Squadron Leader. He was also the Prime Warden of the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers, Vice President of Somerset County Cricket CLub, and President of the Dramatist's Club. In 1976 he was presented with a Special Standard Drama Award for his services to the Theatre, and he received the C.B.E. in the Queen's Birthday Honours.

When Ben Travers died in 1980, at the age of 94, the title of his book of cricket reminiscences was changed in characteristic Travers' form, from 94 NOT OUT to 94 DECLARED.