Sneinton School presented with new book about Bendigo
A children’s book about famous Nottingham boxer ‘Bendigo’ has been published in Australia. Go Bendy Go was written and illustrated for children in the City of Bendigo, a place that took its name after our boxing pioneer.
On 1st October 2025 Alan Dawson, Chair of The Bendigo Heritage Project presented the first copy in the UK to a primary school in Sneinton Nottingham where he is celebrated.
Enthusiastic pupils at Sneinton St Stephens Primary School on Windmill Lane were presented with a copy of Go Bendy Go – The Boy Who Liked To Box and all pupils were told about their local hero in their school assembly.
How Did The Idea Come About?
Jevon Patrick, trustee of the project tells us:
We have many followers over in Australia, and were told about the book’s launch, so we got in touch with the people behind it. Illustrator Geoff Hocking has captured the story perfectly, using pencil and ink illustrations. Lauren Mitchell, who wrote the words, has interpreted the story in a fun and accessible way that children will enjoy.
Author Lauren Mitchell said:
“Geoff asked to collaborate and it wasn’t long before he’d provided me with a host of illustrations to write words for. It was a great challenge to find a fun structure and deeper subtext to what was already an action-packed historical story.”
“Geoff’s illustrations have been thoroughly researched, resulting in a historically accurate depiction of the landmarks, clothing and buildings of the time, all in his trademark energetic, often-comical style.
Keeping Our Joint Social History Alive
Lauren Mitchell says:
“Truth really is stranger than fiction, and Go ‘Bendy’ Go is the perfect example. We hope our book sparks an ongoing interest in goldfields history for locals, young and young-at-heart.”
Geoff Hocking says:
For several years now, I have been attempting to get the ‘movers and shakers’ of Bendigo to do something about honouring their namesake. Maybe one day we will see something that publicly marks the name of Bendigo and its origin in our city. I live in hope.
Alan Dawson says:
We continue to work hard to make Bendigo accessible to future generations. Much of his physical legacy has gone, but his name lives on. Nottingham is a very different place, compared to the harsh reality of life in the overcrowded slums of the town two hundred years ago. This children’s book, Go Bendy Go – The Boy Who Liked To Box is proof that his name just refuses to go away.
Jevon Patrick says:
Bendigo is a unique name for a unique man who has featured in books, films and theatre. He is still talked about and written about. When we learned of this book, we knew we needed to give Nottingham’s children a chance to read it.
We are hoping to raise funds so that every primary school in the county can have a copy for their library.
FUNDRAISING
The Bendigo Memorial Fund is seeking funding for this project, and asking individuals or businesses to get in touch. They can be contacted at bendigofund@gmail.com
